The Standard June 13, 2026
The writers of the Synoptic Gospels–Matthew, Mark, and Luke—relay almost identical words of Jesus regarding what it takes to be a follower. “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23
We don’t all share the same cross. My disordered affections might not be yours; my proclivities might not be yours. Some of us are more naturally prone to overspend or overeat or overdrink, while others are tempted in the areas of sexuality or power or gossip or popularity.
In his letter to the churches of Galatia, and his other epistles, the Apostle Paul clearly puts forth the fact that Christians are saved solely through God’s grace, and that obedience to God’s Word is a natural outgrowth of thankfulness for that grace. This transformation comes only through God’s Spirit and gives us a completely new mindset.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is not longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.” Galatians 2:20-21
“Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:18b-21
Dietrich Bonhoeffer died for his faith in a concentration camp, having chosen to return to Germany despite the dangers. In The Cost of Discipleship he writes, “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship, we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death—we give over our lives to death. Thus, it begins; the cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise god-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the beginning of our communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
“Jesus’ summons to the rich young man was calling him to die, because only the man who is dead to his own will can follow Christ. In fact, every command of Jesus is a call to die, with all our affections and lusts.”
To abandon our own desires and tendencies requires the Holy Spirit. To become more and more like Jesus is a lifelong process. May we soak in the words of Scripture and set aside time alone with God each day in order to understand truly what it means to say, “for me to live is Christ.”
celiastone 