Luke 9:23-27

Luke 9:23-27We learn the absolute necessity of daily self-denial. We learn the unspeakable value of the soul. We learn the guilt and danger of being ashamed of Christ and His words. "A crucified Savior will never be content to have a self-pleasing, self-indulging, worldly-minded people. No self-denial--no real grace! No cross--no crown!""The plain account of many professing Christians is this, that they are daily sinning against the sixth commandment. They are murdering their own souls!""Boldness in Christ's service always brings its own reward. The boldest Christian is always the happiest man."Questions:1. A religion without self-denial is not the Christianity Christ is proclaiming here. Ryle’s questions are worth repeating and considering: Where is our self-denial? Where is our daily carrying of the cross? Where is our following of Christ? 2. I don’t know about you, but I have never thought, as Ryle puts it, that to try and save our souls is to break the command not to murder! Are we living as if our souls will live forever or as if our physical bodies will live forever? 3. Are their times when we have shrunk back and been ashamed of our Lord? Was it for a certain unpopular doctrine? A command? Being associated with His people? May we resolve, even now in prayer, by God’s grace, to not be ashamed of Him!