To deny yourself and your own desires (Matthew 16:24)
To be willing to lose your life for Jesus’ sake (Matthew 16:25)
To surrender to God’s will, even if it means facing difficulties, hardships, or even death (Matthew 10:38)
To acknowledge your vulnerability and weakness, just as Jesus did on the cross (Mark 8:34)
To publicly identify with Christ and His teachings, even if it means facing opposition or ridicule (Matthew 10:38)
I don't know about you, but that is a far cry from someone cursing at speaking mean to you as being crucified.
But if you wish to make that your interpretation, then so be it. 🙂👍
humm. ok. i make no such ‘interpretation,’ said nothing of the sort, and intended nothing of the sort either. and putting words or ‘interpretations’ in the mouths of others strikes me more as a communication problem on your part, FRiend.
and, frankly, i don’t think even the original poster i commented to was making the point that you say he was making, but he can speak for himself.
that being said, the good thing from the scriptures you cite, is that i think we agree on the meaning of Jesus’ Word when he said ‘pick up you cross and follow Me.’
that means (to me) that when you decide to ‘be like Jesus’ which all true Christians will and must do, you will be figuratively or even literally ‘crucified’ by the enemy or the prince of this world (imho that was the original posters point, with maybe a little tongue in cheek :)).
anyway, the serious comment i tried to make was that if you’re a believer, the devil is going to come after you, so you’d better be ready and accept that you’re going to have to suffer persecution from the world if you choose to follow Him. ‘...the servant is not greater than his master.’
now you won’t necessarily have to die for Him, but the cost will be high, and life will not be easy for you, and you will at least have to suffer the killing off the old you at a minimum. now i gladly carry whatever cross i’m commanded to by Him. and of course, when you choose to follow Him, you’d better have made up your mind to ‘give the last full measure of devotion’ if required.
may God bless you and all of FR, and have the last word if you want.