“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24, NIV).
The power in your life and mine that results in blessing is in direct proportion to the extent that you are willing to die to …
- your own will,
- your own goals,
- your own dreams,
- your own rights.
It’s what Jesus meant when He challenged His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” However, before you get too hung up on the cross, don’t forget—after the cross comes the resurrection and the power and the glory and the crown! Jesus kept His focus on the joy of abundant blessing as He “endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2, NIV). Because Jesus was willing to die, He was blessed by God with a position of power and authority at His right hand.
If blessing is in direct proportion to a willingness to die to self, how blessed are you?
Anne Graham Lotz is the founder of AnGeL Ministries. She is also the author of several books.
