The World and its Pleasures

Jesus said,  "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:38).

I tell you that you have less to suffer in following the Cross than in serving the world and its pleasures. -- St. John Vianney

"What does it profit a man

if he gains the whole world 

and loses or forfeits himself?" 

Luke 9:25

The cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful (Mark 4:19). 

If your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long (Deuteronomy 30:17-18). The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish (Psalm 1:6).

"For whoever would save 

his life will lose it; 

and whoever loses 

his life for my sake, 

he will save it."

Luke 9:25

See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).


Lord, teach me to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:12).