Do we believe in a radical commitment to Jesus. Something about when Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) Doesn’t that sound radical? Especially in the first century when crosses were the OCCASIONS OF HORRIBLE DEATHS rather than ornaments at the end of a gold chain. When Jesus called people to follow Him, it wasn’t to a picnic or an amusement park; it was to a different kind of life that included “LOSING ONESELF” for Jesus sake and the gospel. “When Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to SAVE his life will LOSE IT, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s WILL SAVE IT.” (Mark 8:34-35)
Here, in His own words, we look at what it means to be a disciple. The very fact that our Lord called the multitudes together with the disciples has raised questions in many people’s minds. They have wondered if this indicates that Jesus was seeking to make disciples, or was He simply telling his own disciples what it will mean to live as disciples? In other words it raises the question Can you be a Christian and not be a disciple? — Is discipleship a second stage of Christianity? — Are there many Christians, but only a relatively few disciples? Jesus said, “For MANY are called, but FEW are chosen.” (Matt. 22:14) To be chosen is to accept the invitation and to do what is necessary in accepting the invitation: to give up everything in this world. “Do not LOVE the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves (agape) 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 is 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) The word agape used here means we love the world with all that is in us!
To “deny” yourself means to say “No” to yourself and “YES” to God. Paul is not talking about asceticism (omitting earthly possessions), not eating certain foods, ignoring the world, etc. To say it differently, the process of denial is, “to humbly submit my will to God.” As Christians, we are called to HAND OVER OUR LIVES AND SUBMIT to His ways for His sake — to trust Him completely. “Trust in the LORD with ALL YOUR HEART, And lean not on your own understanding;
IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM (intimately know Him), AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS…(Proverbs 3:5-6)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham