Ato sat at his kitchen table, staring at the promotion letter in front of him. The bold heading at the top read: “Congratulations on Your Next Step!” It should have been exciting, this was the break he had been waiting for, a chance to provide more for his family and finally escape the paycheck-to-paycheck grind.
But as he read through the details of the offer, his stomach churned. The job wasn’t what he thought it would be. His boss had made it clear during their private conversation that taking this role would mean “playing by the rules of the game.” Ato understood what that meant: bending the truth to close deals, cutting corners to meet deadlines and prioritizing profit over people.
He leaned back in his chair, running his hands through his hair. The thought of the extra money was tempting. His wife, Clara had been talking about how they needed to save for their kids’ college fund, and their youngest daughter, Emma, had been asking for ballet lessons they couldn’t afford. This promotion could solve so many problems. But at what cost?
Ato sighed and reached for his Bible, which had been sitting unopened on the corner of the table for days. As he flipped through the pages, he landed on a verse he had underlined months ago:
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23
He read the verse again, slower this time, letting the words sink in. Deny yourself. Take up your cross daily. Follow me.
Ato sat there for a long time, staring at the words. He thought about the cross, not as a piece of jewelry or a symbol on a church wall, but as the heavy, brutal instrument of death it had been in Jesus’ time. Taking up a cross wasn’t easy or comfortable. It was a deliberate choice to embrace sacrifice and surrender.
He thought about his faith. Had he been living like a true disciple, or had he been just coasting? Taking the promotion felt like a step forward in the world’s eyes, but Ato couldn’t shake the feeling that it would be a step backward in his walk with Christ.
He prayed quietly: “Lord, this is hard. I want to follow You, but it feels like I’m being asked to give up too much. Help me trust You. Show me what it means to take up my cross today.”
That night, Ato sat down with Clara and told her everything.
“I know this promotion could help us a lot,” he said, his voice heavy. “But taking it would mean compromising my integrity. I’d have to cut corners and do things that wouldn’t honour God. I don’t know if I can do it.”
Clara was quiet for a moment. Then she reached over and took his hand. “Ato, I know how much this opportunity means to you and to us. But I also know you’re a man of faith. If taking this job means going against what you believe, then it’s not worth it. God has always taken care of us, and I believe He’ll continue to provide.”
Her words gave Ato the confirmation he needed. The next morning, he walked into his boss’s office and handed back the signed offer letter with a firm but polite decline.
His boss was incredulous. “Ato, are you sure? This is a golden opportunity. You’re throwing away your chance to move up in this company.”
Ato nodded. “I appreciate the offer, but I can’t take a role that asks me to compromise my values. My faith is more important to me than a title or a bigger paycheck.”
His boss shrugged, clearly frustrated. “Your loss,” he said, tossing the letter onto his desk.
As Ato left the office, he felt a mix of emotions, relief, fear and an odd sense of joy. He had taken up his cross, chosen the harder path, and trusted God.
The weeks that followed weren’t easy. The bills still piled up, and Ato sometimes questioned his decision. But something surprising began to happen.
One day, a coworker approached him in the break room. “I heard you turned down the promotion,” she said. “That took guts. Most people would’ve jumped at the chance.”
Ato smiled awkwardly. “It just didn’t feel right for me,” he said.
The coworker nodded. “Well, I respect you for standing by your values. It’s rare to see that these days.”
A few days later, Ato received an unexpected call from a former colleague.
“Hey, Ato,” the man said. “I heard through the grapevine that you’re still looking for opportunities. I’ve got an opening in my team that I think would be a perfect fit for you. It’s honest work, good pay, and I know you’d bring integrity to the role.”
Within a month, Ato was starting a new job, one that aligned perfectly with his skills and his values. It wasn’t just a job; it felt like a blessing, a confirmation that God had honoured his decision to follow Him.
Luke 9:23 reminds us that following Jesus isn’t always easy. It often requires sacrifice, self-denial, and trust in God’s plan, even when it doesn’t make sense. But the reward is far greater than anything the world can offer.
Here’s what this verse teaches us:
- Deny Yourself
Following Jesus means putting His will above your own desires, ambitions, and comforts. It’s a call to live for Him, not for yourself. - Take Up Your Cross Daily
The cross isn’t a one-time decision, it’s a daily choice to surrender your life to Christ. Each day brings new opportunities to trust Him, obey Him, and reflect His love. - Follow Jesus
True discipleship is about walking in the footsteps of Jesus, even when the path is difficult. It’s about saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
May you have the courage to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus with all your heart. May you find peace in the sacrifices you make for Him, knowing that His plans for you are good and perfect.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to follow You. Help me to deny myself and take up my cross daily. Teach me to trust You in every decision, even when it’s hard. Give me the strength to live for You and the faith to believe that Your plans are always better than mine. In Jesus Name, Amen.
May you take up your cross daily and follow Jesus with boldness and joy!
