TAKE HIS CROSS / Matthew 10:38

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 10:38

 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Take His Cross: What It Truly Means to Follow Jesus

We live in a world obsessed with comfort, convenience, and self-promotion. We are constantly told to “find ourselves,” chase our own happiness, and avoid discomfort at all costs. But when we open the Gospels, we find a message from Jesus that radically contradicts our modern culture.

In Matthew 10:38, Jesus issues a stark, uncompromising boundary line for anyone who wants to be called His disciple:

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

These words can feel heavy, even jarring. But if we look closer at what Jesus is truly asking, we discover that the heavy wooden cross He calls us to carry is actually the path to ultimate freedom, purpose, and joy.

The Reality of the Cross

To understand this verse, we have to look at it through the eyes of the first-century disciples. When Jesus spoke these words, the crucifixion had not yet happened. However, the disciples knew exactly what a cross meant.

In the Roman world, seeing someone carry a cross meant only one thing: they were on death row, walking toward their execution. It was a public display of total submission to a higher authority.

When Jesus tells us to take up our cross, He isn’t talking about enduring a minor daily annoyance, a difficult boss, or an annoying traffic jam. He is calling for something far more radical. He is calling for the death of our self-will.

Denying Self vs. Self-Denial

There is a major difference between practicing self-denial and denying self.

• Self-denial is occasionally giving up something good—like fasting from social media or sweets for a season.
• Denying self means surrendering the driver’s seat of your life to Jesus Christ entirely. It means saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

To take His cross means we choose Christ when temptation whispers, when comfort competes with obedience, and when popularity pulls against conviction. It means exchanging our small, temporary plans for His eternal, magnificent plans.

The Paradox of Worthiness

Jesus says that if we don’t take up the cross, we are “not worthy” of Him. This doesn’t mean we have to earn our salvation through suffering. Rather, it means that a faith without sacrifice isn’t real discipleship.

The beautiful paradox of the cross is found in the very next verse: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39).

When we try to fiercely protect our own comfort, safety, and desires, we end up empty handed. But when we willingly lay our lives down at the feet of Jesus, we find the true, abundant, eternal life we were always searching for.

Carrying It Daily

You do not have to carry your cross alone. The One who asks you to follow Him is the same Savior who went down death row for you first. He knows the weight of the wood, and He provides the exact grace and strength you need for every single step.

Today, choose commitment over convenience. Pick up your cross, fix your eyes on Jesus, and follow Him.

A Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for willingly carrying the ultimate cross for my sake, taking the punishment and shame that belonged to me so that I could be rescued. Forgive me for the times I have chased comfort and convenience over true obedience to Your Word.

Today, I surrender my own desires, my pride, and my plans into Your hands. Give me the courage and strength to pick up my cross daily and follow You faithfully. When the road is narrow and difficult, remind my heart that You are walking right beside me, and that true life is found only in You.

May my life be a living sacrifice that brings glory to Your holy name.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

• NIV Bible
• King James Bible
• www. biblegateway.com
• www.biblestudytools.com
• Map Pencils
• College Ruled Spiral Notebook
• Ballpoint Pens
• Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. I DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE / MATTHEW 10:34
2. ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 10:32
3. YOU ARE WORTH MORE / MATTHEW 10:31
4. HELL / MATTHEW 10:28
5. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM / MATTHEW 10:26
6. CITIES OF ISRAEL / MATTHEW 10:23
7. GIVEN WHAT TO SAY / MATTHEW 10:19-20
8. PREACH THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 10:7
9. AUTHORITY TO DRIVE OUT EVIL SPIRITS / MATTHEW 10:1
10. ASK THE LORD TO SEND / MATTHEW 9:38
11. THE HARVEST IS PLENTIFUL / MATTHEW 9:37
12. NEW WINE INTO OLD WINESKINS / NEW WINE PRESERVED / MATTHEW 9:17
13. THEN THEY WILL FAST / MATTHEW 9:15
14. EAT WITH ‘SINNERS’ / MATTHEW 9:11
15. THEY PLEADED WITH HIM TO LEAVE / MATTHEW 8:34
16. DEMON-POSSESSED MEN /MATTHEW 8:28
17. LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR OWN DEAD / MATTHEW 8:22
18. HEALED ALL THE SICK / MATTHEW 8:16-17
19. GREAT FAITH / MATTHEW 8:10
20. DON’T TELL ANYONE / MATTHEW 8:4
21. JESUS TOUCHED THE MAN / MATTHEW 8:3
22. I NEVER KNEW YOU / MATTHEW 7:23
23. MANY WILL SAY LORD, LORD / MATTHEW 7:22
24. DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER / MATTHEW 7:21
25. BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM / MATTHEW 7:16
26. WATCH OUT FOR FALSE PROPHETS / MATTHEW 7:15
27. SMALL IS THE GATE … AND ONLY A FEW FIND IT / MATTHEW 7:14
28. YOUR FATHER … GIVE GOOD GIFTS / MATTHEW 7:11
29. ASK … SEEK … KNOCK / MATTHEW 7:7-8
30. DO NOT JUDGE / MATTHEW 7:1
31. SEEK … KINGDOM … RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 6:33
32. IF THAT IS HOW GOD CLOTHES / MATTHEW 6:30
33. DO NOT WORRY / MATTHEW 6:25
34. MONEY / MATTHEW 6:24
35. EYE IS THE LAMP OF THE BODY / MATTHEW 6:22
36. WHEN YOU FAST / MATTHEW 6:16
37. IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:15
38. IF YOU FORGIVE / MATTHEW 6:14
39. DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE / MATTHEW 6:13
40. FORGIVE AS WE ALSO HAVE FORGIVEN / MATTHEW 6:12
41. DAILY BREAD / MATTHEW 6:11
42. YOUR KINGDOM COME – YOUR WILL BE DONE / MATTHEW 6:10
43. THIS THEN IS HOW YOU SHOULD PRAY / MATTHEW 6:9
44. PRAY IN SECRET / MATTHEW 6:6
45. ‘ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS’ BEFORE MEN / MATTHEW 6:1
46. DO NOT RESIST AN EVIL PERSON / MATTHEW 5:39
47. EXCEPT FOR MARITAL UNFAITHFULNESS / MATTHEW 5:32
48. HELL / MATTHEW 5:29
49. LOOKS LUSTFULLY / MATTHEW 5:28
50. ANGRY … RACA … FOOL / MATTHEW 5:22
51. UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:20
52. GREAT IN THE KINGDOM / MATTHEW 5:19
53. THE LAW TO FULFILL / MATTHEW 5:17
54. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS / MATTHEW 5:14-16
55. SALT OF THE EARTH / MATTHEW 5:13
56. PERSECUTED BECAUSE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:10
57. THE PEACEMAKERS / MATTHEW 5:9
58. THE PURE IN HEART / MATTHEW 5:8
59. THE MERCIFUL / MATTHEW 5:7
60. HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS / MATTHEW 5:6
61. THE MEEK / MATTHEW 5:5
62. THOSE WHO MOURN / MATTHEW 5:4
63. BLESSED POOR IN SPIRIT / MATTHEW 5:3
64. SERMON ON THE MOUNT / MATTHEW 5-7
65. THE KINGDOM AND HEALING / MATTHEW 4:23
66. FISHERS OF MEN / MATTHEW 4:19
67. SATAN / MATTHEW 4:10
68. ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD / MATTHEW 4:8
69. IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6-7
70. FASTING FORTY DAYS / MATTHEW 4:2
71. JESUS … TEMPTED / MATTHEW 4:1-11
72. THE TRINITY IN EXAMPLE / MATTHEW 3:17
73. SPIRIT … ON HIM / MATTHEW 3:16
74. JESUS … BAPTIZED / MATTHEW 3:13
75. WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / MATTHEW 3:11
76. FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE / MATTHEW 3:8
77. PHARISEES AND SADDUCEES / MATTHEW 3:7
78. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – REPENT / MATTHEW 3:2
79. WARNED IN A DREAM / MATTHEW 2:22-23
80. KILL ALL THE BOYS / MATTHEW 2:16
81. ESCAPE TO EGYPT / MATTHEW 2:13
82. CHIEF PRIESTS AND TEACHERS OF THE LAW / MATTHEW 2:4
83. HEROD – MAGI / MATTHEW 2:1-2
84. NO UNION WITH HER UNTIL / MATTHEW 1:25
85. VIRGIN … GIVE BIRTH TO A SON / MATTHEW 1:23
86. JESUS / MATTHEW 1:21
87. MARY … JESUS / MATTHEW 1:16
88. CHRIST – SON OF DAVID /MATTHEW 1:1
89. GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST / MATTHEW 1:1-16
90. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I love having you here. If this post resonated with you, please drop a comment below and share your thoughts. See you in the next post!

Blessings, Margarita & Stace