Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)
This is the call on every disciple of our Lord Jesus: To say “NO” to yourself. And speaking from personal experience, self-denial is one of the hardest things to do. Does this in any way resonate with you?
Self-denial is foundational for the disciple of Jesus. We are called and commanded to reject the natural, sinful human tendency toward satisfying the self at all costs. And there is no better example of this in all of sacred Scripture than Jesus Himself.
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8)
Jesus, being fully God, set aside His right to His glory, His power, and His privilege in total submission to His Father’s will (John 4:34). Jesus limited His knowledge as a man (Matthew 24:36) and was subject to time and space and a myriad of other human limitations — fatigue, hunger, thirst, and more. The question we must ask ourselves is, “Are we willing to lay aside our rights and privileges and deny ourselves for the glory of God and the eternal good of others?” Our sinful human nature has little or no desire for self-denial, much less the power to actually do it, but our new nature, having been buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in the newness of life, has been given the divine power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
To say “No” to the world is to say “Yes” to the Word. To say “No” to yourself is to say “Yes” to your Savior. Remember, the same power that raised Jesus from death to life — the Holy Spirit — is the power that is at work within you. Let that truth set you free to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus Christ wherever He leads.
Why deny yourself? Because with every act of self-denial, you draw nearer to Jesus and become more and more conformed to His image and likeness. And that is how you will live the life of meaning, significance, and purpose that we all long for.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 