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Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23
Jesus lays down three requirements for being his follower.
- turn from your selfish ways,
- take up your cross daily,
- follow Him.
Although the NLT translated it "selfish ways" the NASB has said one must "deny himself".
I'm a pretty selfish person. Really. I tend to look out for and spend most of my time making sure that numero uno is pleased, comfortable, having a good time. I am bent that way. To some extent I think the entire human race is bent that way.
Denying myself or turning from that selfish desire is not a natural response. Not for me at least. But that's criteria #1 for being a follower of Jesus Christ. If I checked the "yes, I want to follow" box, then this is one of the requirements. Easy? No. Necessary? Definitely.
But what is it exactly? Denying myself? I know some folks that walk around miserable, thinking that this must be what denying one's self is all about. I don't think so. I think it's all about will. It's about making a choice, even if it's hard or uncomfortable to follow God's will.
I can tell you that more times than not, my own will provides me with a nice level of comfort. I do what I like, not sticking my neck out into uncharted waters. I stick to the same routes and enjoy little ripples in the waves. But God's will isn't always so....calm and comfortable. And sometimes it's really hard to be uncomfortable. But if to truly follow Christ, well it's also necessary.
Christ was perfect, not because his house looked like the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog or because he stayed fit by never missing a workout and eating only organic foods. He was perfect because he followed the will of the Father perfectly. Without fail. He denied his own life, his own comfort, his own everything to follow God's will. Perfectly. And I don't think it was easy or comfortable or always fun.
And we are asked first to do the same thing. Deny our own lives. Choose the will of the Father, the plan of the Kingdom above our own desires. Sometimes it will be easy-breezy. Sometimes it will feel impossible. Luckily, we are promised that nothing is impossible with God.
I'm a pretty selfish person. Really. I tend to look out for and spend most of my time making sure that numero uno is pleased, comfortable, having a good time. I am bent that way. To some extent I think the entire human race is bent that way.
Denying myself or turning from that selfish desire is not a natural response. Not for me at least. But that's criteria #1 for being a follower of Jesus Christ. If I checked the "yes, I want to follow" box, then this is one of the requirements. Easy? No. Necessary? Definitely.
But what is it exactly? Denying myself? I know some folks that walk around miserable, thinking that this must be what denying one's self is all about. I don't think so. I think it's all about will. It's about making a choice, even if it's hard or uncomfortable to follow God's will.
I can tell you that more times than not, my own will provides me with a nice level of comfort. I do what I like, not sticking my neck out into uncharted waters. I stick to the same routes and enjoy little ripples in the waves. But God's will isn't always so....calm and comfortable. And sometimes it's really hard to be uncomfortable. But if to truly follow Christ, well it's also necessary.
Christ was perfect, not because his house looked like the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog or because he stayed fit by never missing a workout and eating only organic foods. He was perfect because he followed the will of the Father perfectly. Without fail. He denied his own life, his own comfort, his own everything to follow God's will. Perfectly. And I don't think it was easy or comfortable or always fun.
And we are asked first to do the same thing. Deny our own lives. Choose the will of the Father, the plan of the Kingdom above our own desires. Sometimes it will be easy-breezy. Sometimes it will feel impossible. Luckily, we are promised that nothing is impossible with God.
3 comments:
....and before we know it we are putting off the things that we once held in high esteem....and we don't really remember when such things became less important...that's called transformation.
It's God doing the work in us and US allowing it(denying self).
I can look back over my own walk and see how far God has brought me....and it is simply amazing...
Thank you, my friend, for the reminder of the work that God has for us that will not get done unless we deny ourselves and take up our cross.....
I haven't been over here at 58 degrees in a while. Sorry about that. I like your design. It's beautiful! Yet another great post, as well. Certainly is challenging to go outside the comfort zone, isn't it? Can be exciting, though, too.
Peace.
j
Good summary and discussion of this verse. I don't have a copy of the NLT but I have seen it quoted numerous times and would like a copy. I think it captures the sense of the passage.
This is the 2nd post of yours I've read. Good article, and you have a good blog.
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