“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23.

There is liberty in the Cross of Jesus to live a holy life, not a license to lead a sinful life. We not only turn from something but we turn to something as well.  If we only turn away from our sinful nature and not turn to God’s Divine Nature through faith in Jesus’ finished work, we will fail.  Denying ourselves requires turning from our own power to the power of God.  Without the power of God we are at the mercy of satan.

“For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.  It is our faith in His Cross, which broke the power of sin over the child of God, that we turn to which enables us to deny ourselves.  This is the work of the Holy Spirit which gives us the liberty to live a holy life.  If taking up your cross daily results in a license to sin and not liberty from sin, is it possible you have attempted to turn from, to deny yourself,  but have failed to turn to the power of God, your faith in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone?

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1.  Has your liberty turned to bondage?  When you turned from the bondage, what or Who did you turn to?  Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is where the bondage was broken, turn back to Him.  – Donna Clark Warren