The Cross and the Will of God

Key Verse:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'” – Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)

The cross is central to our faith-not only as the place where Jesus paid the price for our sins, but also as a call to personal surrender. While His death opened the way to salvation and reconciled us to the Father, the cross also serves as a powerful invitation to every believer: the invitation to lay down our will and embrace God’s. Jesus made it clear that following Him is not merely about believing in what He did, but about walking the same path of submission. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”

The cross is not just a religious symbol or a pendant around our necks-it’s the intersection where our will meets God’s will. It is the point where we must choose to let go of self-centered desires, personal ambition, and fleshly preferences to embrace the higher purposes of God. This is not an easy road, but it is the road of true discipleship. It is not enough to say we are followers of Christ; we must also be willing to surrender like Christ did.

The tension between our will and God’s will is one of the most powerful realities in the life of every believer. Our human nature often seeks independence and control, while God calls us to submission and trust. The essence of spiritual maturity is learning to say, as Jesus did, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” This surrender is not a one-time decision-it is a daily act of yielding ourselves to God’s leadership, trusting that His plan is far better than ours.

The pattern of rebellion began with Lucifer when he sought to elevate his will above God’s (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). From that moment, the battle of wills has echoed through human history. Yet Jesus shows us a better way-the way of obedience. True power in the kingdom is found not in asserting our will, but in surrendering it. This is the way of the cross. This is where peace and purpose are found.

In a world that constantly encourages us to “follow our hearts” and “chase our dreams,” the message of the cross reminds us to follow Christ and seek His will above all. If we truly desire to live for God, then the cross must become more than a symbol-it must become our posture. Every day, we are invited to lay our will down and say, “Lord, lead me.” That is where transformation begins.

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the example of Jesus, who surrendered His will to yours. Help me to take up my cross daily and submit my will to your perfect plan. Teach me to trust you, even when your will challenges my own desires. I want to please you with my life and follow you wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.