Death That Leads to Life
June 28, 2026. Matthew 10:34-42. Pastor Leslie Nolin
Matt. 10:34-42. Matt.10:38 states: “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
This is the first mention of the cross in Matthew. When a person took the cross in Jesus' day, they knew what it meant. The Romans did not negotiate, you had no choice, there was no looking back.
The cross was one of the most brutal forms of execution that was both agonizing and slow, often taking days. When Jesus tells us to take up our cross, He is saying, we need to give up our lives as though we are already dead, living on borrowed time.
William Law was a preacher in the early 1700's. “If you attempt to talk with a dying man about sports or business, he is no longer interested. He now sees other things as more important. People who are dying recognize what we often forget, that we are standing on the brink of another world.(W.L.)”
Jesus did say, “Occupy until I come.” (Luke 19:13) but He also said, “...for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me.” (Jn.14:30). We have been given much in this life to use and enjoy but it is not meant to rule our lives. Just as the seed that fell on thorny ground, the cares of life can choke out the seed of God's Word and true life. If all that we have to live for is in this world, then we lose what is truly important. “You are to think of yourself as only existing in this world to do God's will. To think that you own it is as absurd as to think you are self-created. It is an obvious principle that you belong completely to God.” (William Law, 1728).
Matthew 10:39 tells us that in dying, we truly live, “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
1 Cor.6:19-20; “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.”
Romans 6:22; “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (slaves: servants in NIV, doulos- make a slave, reduce to bondage) Galatians 5:1; “It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more to a yoke of slavery.”
Freedom is not autonomy from God but freedom from the bondage of sin. John 8:36; “Who the Son sets free is free indeed.” Free from the chains of sin. The devil can no longer blackmail you, as the prince of this world has no hold over Jesus (Lk.19:13), as we submit to Him and resist the devil (Ja.4:7), we are free from condemnation (Rom.8:1).
Dying to self is not only surrendering what is important to us but also realizing that we have no natural goodness in us to make us acceptable to God. It is not our strength that overcomes the glitter and false enticements of this world or the enemy's accusations, though they are true, but solely depending on the grace and mercy of God as we walk in humble honesty before Him.
Psalm 32 is one passage of scripture that has helped me.
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 'I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.' Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him. Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”
Amen
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