Becoming Like Christ, Daily

Christ said to his disciples:
"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9:23-24)

It is interesting that it says "daily." Is Christ trying to say to follow Him daily?

Christ is always exhorting us to follow Him. Part of our journey in life is to become like Him. He shows us how. His command to "take up his cross" has some intriguing imagery. Christ carried His own cross, bearing his own weight and the weight of the sins of the world. Like Him, we need to carry our own cross. We each have our own cross, unique from that of Christ. Our cross is to keep the commandments, serve one another, take care of our families, follow the prophet, etc.

Christ had a certain distance to walk while carrying the cross. We also have a certain distance to carry our own cross. We need to follow Christ and walk every day in the right direction. It does no good to stand in one place, not progressing. Although it requires work, it is necessary to progress "daily."

Christ had help carrying his cross. He would walk fast enough so another man was compelled to carry it for him. We can also have help carrying our burdens. Again, this help comes through Christ. Because those who follow Him have a light burden, while his yoke is heavy.

Christ also lived his entire "daily" life for others and not for himself. He even died for others - His Father and for us. He warns us that if we save our own lives we will lose them, but if we lose our lives for His sake (serving Him and others) then we will save them. I imagine that the kind of life we lose after finding it would be a different kind of life than the one we would find if we lost it. The latter would be Eternal Life.