DENY THE SELF

“THEN He said to them all, “IF ANYONE DESIRES TO COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Luke 9:23 (NKJV)
Following Christ Jesus would definitely cost whoever made the choice something. The person would have to deny himself or herself, take up his or her cross daily, and follow Him—Jesus. This decision to be a disciple should not be made casually, without a proper thought on the pros, positive, and cons, negative, aspects of the decision—without knowing the gravity, the importance or significance of the decision being made. It should not be done rashly.

Jesus Christ wanted whoever is making the decision of being a disciple of His to know the gravity or the implication of it; because it entails a number of things—sacrifices and commitments.
We are not called to be outwardly look like Christ only but be the disciples of Him. The word disciple means a pupil or a learner or an adherent of a particular leader, or that of a group.
To be Jesus’ learner or pupil means you are willing to do or practice or abide by His teaching, not only in knowing it, but in the practice of it. You want to be like Him in character; emulate Him in all areas of life.

The name Christian was given to the disciples or believers in Antioch because they look like Christ: “SO IT WAS THAT FOR A WHOLE YEAR THEY ASSEMBLED WITH THE CHURCH AND TAUGHT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE. AND THE DISCIPLES WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS IN ANTIOCH” (Acts 11:26 NKJV).
Being a disciple would cost you a number of things, whilst being a nominal Christian might not. Believers in Christ Jesus are not called to be nominal Christians, being a Christian in name or form only, but to be His Disciples or His followers or His adherents—committed followers of Christ Jesus.
Peace!