What Jesus Meant By "Take Up Your Cross

Jul 05, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Peanut Butter, Grapes, and the Process of Abundance

A peanut butter and jelly sandwich requires 270 crushed peanuts and 200 processed grapes. Just as these ingredients undergo transformation to create something satisfying, Jesus shapes us through seasons of grinding, crushing, and refining to produce abundant life. The sweetness of God’s promises often comes through surrendered participation in His methods, not just our craving for the end result. Trusting His process matters more than demanding immediate perfection. [13:53]

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)

Reflection: Where are you resisting God’s process in your life because the “crushing” feels uncomfortable? How might embracing this season open you to deeper trust in His goodness?

Day 2: Turn Signals and Yellow Lights

Following Jesus resembles trailing a trusted driver through unfamiliar streets. He checks rearview mirrors, signals turns early, and paces the journey to keep you close. Abundant life isn’t about speed or shortcuts but learning to match His rhythm. When He slows unexpectedly or reroutes, it’s not abandonment—it’s protection. His leadership prioritizes your arrival over your urgency. [22:40]

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)

Reflection: What “yellow light” moment has Jesus used recently to keep you close? How can you interpret delays as kindness rather than frustration?

Day 3: Crosses Are for Surrendering, Not Suffering

The cross Jesus calls us to carry daily isn’t passive endurance of life’s hardships but active surrender of our agendas. Like Christ in Gethsemane, we lay down our “if there’s any other way” to embrace His “Your will be done.” Every surrendered “no” to self makes space for a deeper “yes” to the life He’s already secured. [39:30]

“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23, NLT)

Reflection: What negotiation have you been having with God about surrender? What would it look like to release your terms today?

Day 4: U-Hauls and Unseen Maps

Moving to Nebraska wasn’t about geography but obedience. Jesus often leads us into unknown territory to reveal His faithfulness. His navigation includes divine appointments, timely dreams, and even grief’s anniversaries becoming milestones of blessing. The abundant life unfolds when we stop demanding the itinerary and start tracing His fingerprints. [35:18]

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT)

Reflection: When has God rerouted your life in a way that initially confused you? How did His plan prove better than your expectations?

Day 5: No Turning Back

The hymn “I Have Decided” was born from a martyr’s defiance, not comfort. True discipleship means burning bridges to lesser things—not because they’re evil, but because Jesus’ invitation demands wholehearted allegiance. Abundant life flourishes when we stop glancing over our shoulder at what we’ve released and fix our eyes on the feast ahead. [44:11]

“If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” (Luke 9:24, NLT)

Reflection: What “village” of old habits, mindsets, or comforts do you need to walk away from to fully follow Jesus? How can today’s choices reflect that resolve?

Sermon Summary

Jesus sets a seat at the table and names the life he offers: abundant. John 10:10 frames it as life to the full, not thin survival but overflow. A peanut-butter-and-jelly image anchors it with a simple line: “the product is found in the process.” Desire aims for the product—joy, peace, hope, purpose—but Jesus shows the process in Luke 9:23: give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow.

Luke 9:23 speaks to a crowd, so the invitation lands on everyone. Jesus does not recruit admirers or hype men; he calls followers. Following sounds like sticking close to a car in an unfamiliar city: the leader knows the back roads, slows at yellow lights, and signals early. Jesus acts as that kind of navigator—patient, attentive, purposeful—and he knows the route to abundance.

Salvation marks the starting line, not the finish. The yes that begins at an altar must keep showing up on a Monday morning, a long Tuesday, a wounding Thursday, a tempting Friday, and a quiet Sunday. Following is not nodding at Jesus from a distance; it is rearranging life around him.

“Give up your own way” trips many up because it sounds like losing everything good. Jesus counters that fear. He is not asking anyone to give up a great life; he is asking for the surrender of the insistence that one’s way is better than his. Every day brings an intersection where Jesus turns right and self wants left. The question shifts from “What do I want?” to “Where is Jesus leading?”

Jesus proves himself the ultimate navigator. A lived story names it: exhaustion, a vivid dream, a clear word, patient waiting, and then doors opening in Nebraska. Ephesians 3:20 becomes concrete, not abstract—immeasurably more, mapped by a faithful guide. Trust grows as goodness is tasted, and “your way over mine” becomes easier to say.

“Take up your cross daily” is not shorthand for bad luck. First hearers saw the cross as a one-way road to death. In Gethsemane, Jesus models it: “Not my will, but yours.” The cross pictures complete surrender, not negotiated terms. A simple morning prayer trains the heart—“Jesus, today, it’s your way over mine. Lead me. Help me trust. Help me follow.”—and returns on repeat when temptation, offense, and fear rise. It may feel like losing, but Jesus calls it trading good for great. “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it… but if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” The old hymn says it clean: “No turning back. The cross before me, the world behind me.” The invitation stands the same—count me in.

Key Takeaways

1. The product is in the process [14:55] The good life Jesus promises is not a one-click product; it is formed through daily practices of trust and surrender. The PB&J picture insists that outcomes are hidden in ordinary, patient steps. Desire aims at joy and peace, but formation happens as the heart learns Jesus’ pace and path. [14:55]
2. Jesus is the ultimate Navigator [30:20] Following him looks like staying tucked in behind a careful driver who knows the way, slows for yellow lights, and signals early. Jesus does not rush off and leave anyone; he leads with wisdom and timing. Abundance grows where proximity to his lead is guarded. [30:20]
3. Surrender means renouncing self-superiority [27:34] “Give up your own way” is not a call to a miserable life; it is the death of the belief that one’s way is better than Jesus’ way. Each crossroads exposes a trust issue, not merely a behavior issue. Freedom appears when the governing question becomes, “Where is Jesus leading me?” [27:34]
4. The daily cross is complete surrender [39:04] First-century ears heard “cross” as a one-way road, not random suffering. In Gethsemane, Jesus shows non-negotiated obedience—“not my will, but yours.” Daily acceptance of that posture loosens control, clarifies the destination, and makes costly love possible. [39:04]
5. Salvation starts a lifetime of yes [24:49] The initial yes is the starting gun, not the tape at the finish line. Monday-through-Sunday choices are where discipleship becomes real, specific, and tested. Over time, repeated yeses reshape instincts so that “your way over mine” becomes the reflex of a renewed heart. [24:49]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[10:56] - Seat at the Table Invitation
[14:55] - Product Found In The Process
[15:46] - Jesus Promises Abundant Life
[18:07] - Luke 9:23: The Path Named
[19:59] - Following Like Driving Behind
[23:11] - Trusting The One Who Leads
[24:49] - Salvation Is The Starting Line
[26:15] - Give Up Your Own Way
[27:34] - Not My Way But His
[30:20] - Jesus, The Ultimate Navigator
[34:26] - Stepping Into Nebraska Blessing
[36:52] - Take Up Your Cross Daily
[39:04] - Gethsemane And Complete Surrender
[40:52] - A Simple Daily Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Luke 9:23 (NLT): Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
- John 10:10 (NLT): The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
- Ephesians 3:20 (NLT): Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Observation Questions

According to Luke 9:23, what three actions does Jesus say are required to follow Him?
In the sermon, the phrase “the product is found in the process” was illustrated with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What does this analogy teach about how spiritual growth happens? [14:55]
How does John 10:10 contrast Jesus’ purpose with the thief’s purpose?
What practical example from the sermon showed how trusting Jesus’ guidance led to unexpected blessings? [34:26]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus uses the metaphor of “taking up your cross daily” (Luke 9:23) instead of a less extreme image? How might His original audience have understood this?
The sermon emphasized that “surrender means renouncing self-superiority.” How does this idea challenge common misconceptions about following Jesus? [27:34]
Ephesians 3:20 says God can do “infinitely more than we might ask or think.” How does the Nebraska story in the sermon demonstrate this principle? [34:26]
How does Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane (“not my will, but yours”) model what daily surrender looks like for believers?

Application Questions

Identify a recent “intersection” in your life where Jesus’ way conflicted with your own desires (e.g., a relationship, decision, or reaction). How did you respond, and what might it look like to choose His way next time? [29:38]
The sermon suggested a daily prayer: “Jesus, today, it’s your way over mine. Lead me. Help me trust. Help me follow.” What practical step could you take to incorporate this prayer into your morning routine? [40:52]
What is one area where you’ve been insisting “my way is better” instead of trusting Jesus’ navigation? How could surrendering this area deepen your experience of His abundant life? [28:38]
The cross symbolizes complete surrender, not “negotiated terms.” Where are you currently negotiating with God (e.g., “I’ll obey if…”)? What would full surrender look like in that situation? [39:54]
Reflect on a time when God’s process (e.g., waiting, refining, or redirecting) felt frustrating. How might viewing the “product” as tied to the “process” change your perspective on current challenges? [14:55]
The Nebraska story highlighted trusting Jesus even when the path felt unclear. What “unknown” in your life requires you to follow Jesus like a careful driver, even if His timing or route seems slow? [30:20]

Sermon Clips

72s

#SurrenderDaily

“``But can I tell you that picking up your cross gets a whole lot easier? This understanding that it's surrender daily, it gets way easier when you remember the destination that Jesus has for you, an abundant life, that he's gone there before you, that he knows what it takes to get there. And so how do you do that practically each and every day? If you're wondering, how do I pick up my cross? Can I just encourage you? You know, when you wake up, before you negotiate, before you try to take the wheel, before you decide who you're going to follow that day, maybe it's a prayer that you can say something along the lines of this. It'll be up on the screens if you wanna take a picture as a reminder. But, Jesus, today, it's your way over mine. Lead me today. Help me trust you today. Help me to follow you today. Would you be the navigator of my life today? And it's this understanding that I'm surrendering my day because I'm called to pick up my cross daily.”

68s

#CrossWasChosen

“That that was the cross. See, people who were crucified carried a beam of them, a beam of the cross they were crucified on. They carried it with them to their final destination place, and there was no turning back into Jesus. The cross ultimately led to death. The cross was a heavy burden to bear. And so I think that sometimes where we get it confused is that, oh, it's this sickness or it's this thing. It's this heavy burden to bear. But can I just break it down for you? The cross wasn't bad luck to Jesus. It wasn't bad luck. The cross wasn't something that unexpectedly happened to Jesus. That was not the cross. You see, we see in the garden that before Jesus took the cross, he knew exactly what he was walking into, and he said, father, if there is any other way, would you take this cup from me? Yet not my way or my will, but your will be done. The cross is a picture of complete surrender.”

57s

#ChooseTheNavigator

“Do I trust myself more, or do I trust Jesus more? And can I tell you that every single day, you're gonna face an intersection where you have to choose, am I gonna follow Jesus, or am I gonna follow me? Am I gonna give up my way, or am I gonna am I gonna do choose my way or choose his way? Am I gonna choose my response or his response? Hey. This instance rise up. Does this moment happen? Am I gonna choose my response or his response? The question has to shift in our mind from what do I want to where is Jesus leading me? That's where we have to land. But the good news is Jesus is the ultimate navigator. He's gone before us. He's led this life, and he he's he's knows exactly where we're going. He knows the shortcuts to take. He knows how to get you where you need to get safely. And it's something that I know and believe to be true”

45s

#FollowForAbundance

“And what I found is that the more I follow Jesus, the more I experience John ten ten. The more I experience that full life, that abundant life, and the more I experience his goodness, the easier he is to trust. And the easier that he is to trust, it just becomes easier to say, Jesus, your way over mine. Your way over mine. Following Jesus doesn't always mean that you have to pick up and move states. Listen. I hope that's not what it means because I love Nebraska, and I wanna live here forever. It doesn't always mean you have to pick up and move states, but Jesus is asking every one of us to pick something up every single day.”

74s

#DivineConfirmation

“And I'm working both of these jobs, and I had a dream on a Sunday night. And this dream on a Sunday night was, the the part time job I was working was over Zoom. And I had a dream that I hopped on Zoom. I went to my home office, and I logged on to my computer. And Richie and Andrew, two of my best friends still today, they pulled me into a breakout room in this Zoom. And they said, hey, Tyler. We just wanna we just wanna recognize that you're burning the candle at both ends, man, that we can tell you're exhausted. And we also recognize the call that God has on your life. They knew I was in ministry, and they told me that we want you to chase after that, man. We want you to be all in with what God has for you in your life. And in my dream, God tells me, well, if you will trust me, I will bless you. Very clearly. And I woke up. And I woke up, and I like, that was a weird dream. K? That was a very weird dream. And I woke up on a Monday morning, and I walked downstairs to my home office, and I logged into Zoom. And right away, I got pulled into a breakout room by Richie and Andrew. And they said, Tyler, we can just see you're burning the candle at both ends. And my dream completely unfolded right before me.”

81s

#SalvationIsTheStart

“But I want what I want you to know is that salvation isn't the finish line, that it's the starting line to the greatest journey of your life. It's not the finish line. Like, okay. I prayed this prayer. It's the starting line that says, okay. I said yes. Now I'm following Jesus. What does it look like? Now I'm I'm chasing after Jesus. Salvation is the moment that we say yes to him, but following Jesus is a continued yes each and every day. It's a continued yes. It's a continued, I'm gonna follow your lead. It's following Jesus happens on a Monday morning. We all know what Monday mornings can be like at times. Following Jesus happens on a Tuesday afternoon when you're coming out of a long meeting at work. Following Jesus happens on a Wednesday when you're just trying to push through the week. A Thursday when somebody hurts your feelings. A Friday when you're tempted. A Saturday when nobody's looking, and a Sunday when things quiet down. Following Jesus is this continual journey that says, I think I know Jesus, you know where we're going, and I'm going to follow you. It's not just agreeing with him from a distance. It's actually rearranging your life around him.”

57s

#GivingUpMyWayIsHard

“And if we're being honest, most of us, when we hear that, that's where the struggle gets real. For most of us, that's where the struggle gets real. For some of us, that's where the journey stops. It's because I have to I have to give up my own way. And oftentimes, we think in our head, right, if something immediately rises up inside of us, I gotta give up my own way? Like, I don't wanna give up my own way, and we come to these conclusions. Like, well, if I give up my own way, then my life's just gonna be terrible. That God has a life that he doesn't want me to enjoy. Right? God that I'm not gonna have any fun. Or if I give up my own way, that means I have to give up and deny every dream and desire and everything that I've worked for and everything that I want.”

60s

#NoNegotiatedSurrender

“It's this picture in the garden of complete surrender, not a negotiated surrender. Now did Jesus ask for something? Did Jesus say if there's any other way? Yes. But he still landed on this place that said, you know what? Not my will, but your will be done. And I don't know about you, but I'm thankful that Jesus made that decision, that he completely surrendered his own way, that he completely surrendered his own will. And I think for a lot of us, that's what we wanna do, but we find ourselves negotiating our terms of surrender with God. I'll forgive that person, but they have to say sorry first. They have to go first. God, I'm gonna start serving you, but only when it's convenient for me. God, I'm gonna follow you, but only if I get to know every single direction and every turn that we're gonna take.”

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