Matt 16:24-27
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.’”
To deny oneself means to start each day by acknowledging your need for Christ. (Proverbs 3:5-6) It involves recognizing that we can accomplish all things through Him, but apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) It is about beginning the day with an attitude of humility, understanding that we cannot achieve anything of significance without the Spirit of Christ guiding us. (1 Corinthians 2:16) This means waking up with the intention of laying down our own desires as a living sacrifice, saying, “Lord, how can I be used by you today? Fill me, control me, and let me know you.” It involves transforming our minds daily from worldly thinking to spiritual understanding because of the internal struggles we face. (Romans 12, Galatians 5) Denying oneself allows us to uncover our true selves, which have been hidden and distorted by sin, and to discover who we truly are in Christ.
This journey is a daily battle (Romans 7:23), but it is one worth fighting. Listen to what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:6-8: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
We are like an offering poured out, fighting the good fight, finishing the race, and keeping the faith, knowing that we will receive a crown of righteousness awarded by Christ Himself. Onward, Christian soldier!