Deny thy self.
To my brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are in a time in the United States where we are surrounded by many who claim to be of God but do not act as if they say they are. We hear many false gods’ being preached about while we the people of God do nothing. When we hear about some person who is actually doing the work of God we sit back and say good for them. Why? Why don’t we stand beside those who give there lives for our Lord? At the very least we could be praying for them without ceasing. “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-” (Ephesians 6:18) Why don’t we give our lives for the Lord?
Now that I got your attention. Lets look at Luke 9:23-26. “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. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Farther’s, and of the holy angels.” Here is the tough question do we pick up our cross and follow our Lord daily or, do we waste time doing other things? What are we doing when we do not follow Christ daily? We are doing all that we want to do. When we do not follow the Lord daily it becomes a whole lot easier to fall into temptation and sin. Do you really love God enough to give him your life and stand for him?
I challenge all to get alone with God and ask him to show and guide you how to deny yourself. After you pray that don’t just say amen afterwards but, listen. He may tell you or direct you to a bible verse you need to read. Personally I have realized that there have been times when God has been trying to tell me something and I was too loud to hear him. I believe that when you truly seek after God you will find him.
To God be the glory!
JMan,
How much self denial is too much?
Thanks,
JDH
JMan,
Also, does scripture talk elsewhere about self denail? Does it ever describe self-denial in more than alagorical terms, i.e. such as “pick up your cross?”
I don’t know about you or others out there, I don’t have a literal cross.
Nor did the average first century hearer of the Gospel. So, I don’t think it means pick up a wooden execution device and carry it.
That leaves me wondering what scripture give us in the way of describing or advising how we can know we are actually picking up a cross for Jesus. Do you know any other places where scripture expands on this concept?
Thanks,
JDH
JMan,
How can I tell when God is speaking to me versus me hearing my own inner voice or being decieved by the enemy?
Does scripture advise us in this? If so, where?
Thanks,
JDH