# deny yourself

"Deny Yourself" — The Call to Pick Up a Cross and Mean It Literally

Jesus told His followers to deny themselves, pick up a cross, and follow Him. Not a metaphor for skipping dessert. A cross — the thing people died on. The words have been softened into a phrase for minor inconvenience, but the crowd He said it to knew exactly what was meant. And what He's offering on the other side of it is the part we usually skip.