Jesus Denied Self - We Must Too!

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matthew 16:24 NKJV)

    Jesus spent His time here in doing the Father's will (consider His determination at age twelve, Luke 2:49). He did not seek after earthly things like fame/prestige (consider Matthew 9:30-31), houses (Matthew 8:20), or riches (2 Corinthians 8:9). His very food (what nourished Him and kept Him going) was to do His Father's will AND finish it (John 4:31-34)!  

    Jesus did not come with His own words, but the Father's - so all glory and reverence would be to His Father (John 12:49; 14:23-24).

"...not My will, but Yours, be done." 

 (Luke 22:42 NKJV)

    Jesus did not come to do His own will, but the Father's (John 6:38) - so that God's plan from eternity would be accomplished - and our faith and hope would be in the Father (1 Peter 1:18-21).

    We too, must deny our own self - our earthly desires/pursuits that can distract and consume us (2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Timothy 6:6-19) - and instead submit wholly to God; His Word, His will, His way! Jesus said that "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternity." (John 12:25 NKJV) Note: "hate" in this verse means to 'love [our own life] less than we love the Lord.'  - we must love God more than life (Psalm 63:1-5)!!

 

"Do not love the world of the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life - is not of the Father but of the world. and the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV)  

 

       Jesus came, He lived for God, and He died for us - why? The answer is found in 2 Corinthians 5:15: "...He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."

 

    Are you willing to give up your preconceived ideas and notions and instead submit to God's word and will? Are you willing to exchange your pursuits for worldly gain for a pursuit of righteousness? Are you willing to get out of your own comfort zone and follow Jesus? It all begins with denying self! To be more like the Son in 2021 we must deny self and selfish pursuits - are you willing?

 

     Let's live in such a selfless way that all we say and do brings glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Peter 2:11-12) - just as Jesus did!!

 

 

You can do it! So can I!!