“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

What a challenge to our hearts, coming from One who had just spoken of His sufferings, His death, and resurrection! How unselfishly He lived! And in death He thought only of the glory of God and the blessing of souls. Beloved, what do we know of this? I know the world makes great demands upon saints of God today. It makes demands upon our time, our energies, and our affections. We forget that Christ has the first claim upon us. We push the claims of God aside, and seek to gratify self and follow after our selfish desires rather than deny that sinful self within us.

Oh, if we will heed His voice, “Come after Me,” we may lose ourselves in the happy occupation with Himself. We will desire those things that please Him and thus be able to edify others (Rom. 14:19). Then, if we properly appreciate His death for us, we shall not henceforth live unto ourselves, but unto Him who died and rose again for us (2 Cor. 5:15).

Self must be denied. Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31).The sooner you die the better you will live. It reminds me of a writer who said, “I went to my own funeral and came back alive. I was buried with Christ, and am risen with Him. The resurrection life is the one I now live.”

Now, I would make a final appeal to all who are Christ’s. Whenever you have spare moments or times of ease, just ask Him, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” He will fill your heart and hands with that which will bring honor to Him and blessing to others. Then there will be no idle time to gratify self, nor any excuse for self-indulgence. Fellow Christian, accept the challenge of these words. Sinners are perishing, saints are suffering, and Christ is coming!