Opening Prayer
Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat! Kumusta ang bawat isa? Excited ako sa devotion natin ngayon kasi ito ang isa sa pinaka-core ng pagiging tunay na disciple ni Jesus: “Deny Yourself, Take Up the Cross.”
Let’s pray.
“Heavenly Father, salamat po sa pagkatawag n’yo sa amin hindi lang para maligtas kundi para sundan si Jesus araw-araw. Turuan n’yo kami ngayon kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng magpasan ng aming krus at tumanggi sa sarili. Bigyan n’yo kami ng lakas at tapang na mamuhay sa ganitong paraan. Sa pangalan ni Cristo Jesus, Amen.”
Scripture Reading
Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”— Luke 9:23–26 (NIV)
Napaka-direct ni Jesus, ‘di ba? Walang paligoy-ligoy. Kung gusto nating maging alagad Niya, kailangan nating matutong tanggihan ang sarili at buhatin ang ating krus araw-araw.
Comfortable Christianity?
Maraming tao ang gustong tanggapin si Jesus bilang Savior pero hindi lahat handang sundan Siya bilang Lord. Madali kasing sabihin, “I believe in Jesus.” Pero ang tanong: “Am I following Him?”
Hindi sinabi ni Jesus, “Come and be comfortable.” Ang sabi Niya: “Come and die.” At dito natin makikita ang tatlong hakbang ng tunay na discipleship:
- Deny yourself — Not my will, but His.
- Take up your cross daily — Embrace sacrifice.
- Follow Me — The reward of true life.
Deny Yourself: Not My Will but His
Ang salitang deny ay nangangahulugang tanggihan o sabihing “hindi” sa sarili mong kagustuhan. Ang mundo laging nagsasabi, “Follow your heart.” Pero si Jesus, iba: “Follow Me.” Bakit? Kasi minsan ang puso natin gusto ng mga bagay na taliwas sa kalooban ng Diyos. Ang unang hakbang ng discipleship ay surrender — pagbibigay ng kontrol sa Panginoon.
Sabi ni Pablo sa Galatians 2:20,
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Yan ang essence ng pag-deny sa sarili: “Lord, hindi na ako ang bida, Ikaw na.” Isipin mo ang isang driver na ayaw magpa-drive kahit hindi niya alam ang daan. Ang ending lost siya palagi. Pero kapag hinayaan mong si Jesus ang humawak ng manibela ng buhay mo, makakarating ka kung saan ka Niya gustong dalhin. Denying yourself means letting go of control and trusting the One who knows the way.
Not my will, Lord, but Yours.
Take Up Your Cross Daily: Embrace Sacrifice
Sabi ni Jesus, “Take up your cross daily.” Noong unang siglo, ang krus ay hindi palamuti ito ay instrumento ng kamatayan. So kapag sinabi ni Jesus na buhatin mo ang iyong krus araw-araw, ang ibig Niyang sabihin: “Be ready to die to yourself, to sin, to comfort — para sa Akin.” Minsan sinasabi natin, “Traffic is my cross,” o “My boss is my cross.” Pero hindi po iyon ang ibig sabihin ni Jesus. Ang tunay na taking up the cross ay willingness na mag-suffer at mag-sacrifice dahil kay Cristo. Sabi ni Jesus sa John 12:24,
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
Isipin mo ‘yung butil ng palay kailangan munang mabaon sa lupa bago ito tumubo. Ganon din sa discipleship may mga bagay na kailangang mamatay muna bago lumago ang tunay na buhay: Pride, selfishness, comfort zones. Pero sa bawat death to self, may bagong fruit na lumalabas patience, love, obedience.
Kaya kung sa tingin mo mahirap ngayon ang pagsunod kay Jesus, tandaan mo: Hindi ka nag-iisa. At hindi sayang ang bawat sakripisyo mo. The cross may look painful, but it always leads to resurrection.
Follow Me: The Reward of True Life
“Follow Me.” Ito ang direction ng discipleship hindi lang deny, hindi lang carry, kundi follow. Sabi ni Jesus:
“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it.”
Parang paradox, ‘di ba? Pero ito ang mystery ng faith You lose to win. You die to live. Sa Philippians 3:7–8, sabi ni Pablo:
“Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
Yes, following Jesus may cost you something: comfort, friends, reputation. Pero kapalit nito? True joy, true peace, true life. Isipin mo ang bata na ayaw bitawan ang luma at sirang laruan, kahit hawak na ng magulang niya ang bagong regalo. Ganyan din tayo minsan. Kapag kapit tayo sa luma nating buhay, hindi natin maranasan ang bagong buhay na gustong ibigay ni Jesus.
So when Jesus says, “Follow Me,” He’s not calling you to misery. He’s calling you to something better: A life that’s full, joyful, and eternal.
Reflection Questions
- What does denying yourself look like in your daily life — in your time, money, or relationships?
- Why did Jesus say, “take up your cross daily,” not once?
- Is there something from your old life that’s hard to let go for Christ?
- How does losing your life for Christ lead to finding it?
Take a moment to think about these. Discipleship isn’t just about knowing, it’s about living.
Summary & Life Application
Let’s summarize:
Ang discipleship ay hindi madali pero ito lang ang daan patungo sa tunay na buhay.
Jesus calls us to:
- Deny ourselves — isuko ang ating sariling kagustuhan.
- Take up our cross — tanggapin ang sakripisyo at pagsunod.
- Follow Him — at doon natin matatagpuan ang tunay na buhay kay Cristo.
Challenge yourself this week:
“Am I living for myself, or am I daily carrying my cross and following Jesus?”
Because the answer to that question will show how real your discipleship is.
Closing Prayer
“Lord Jesus, inaamin namin hindi madali ang mag-deny ng sarili. Pero salamat dahil hindi Mo kami iniwan sa laban na ito. Bigyan Mo kami ng lakas at tapang para pasanin ang aming krus araw-araw at sundan Ka nang tapat. Ipaalala Mo sa amin na ang tunay na buhay ay nasa Iyo lamang. Sa Iyong pangalan, Amen.”
Maraming salamat po! Keep walking with Jesus hindi lang tuwing Sunday, kundi araw-araw.
Former Adventists Philippines
“Freed by the Gospel. Firm in the Word.”
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Email: formeradventist.ph@gmail.com
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