Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22:37-39 (NASB)
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves..." So, what does it mean to deny ourselves? We hear this part of the scripture and we just think denying yourself isn't something you just do once and never again. And it's definitely not something that comes easily once you've decided to follow Jesus Christ. Denying yourself is a daily and active choice. Active means it takes intentional bold and physical, mental, spiritual and emotional actions with your faith. It takes getting to know His Word and His heart and everyday asking God to show you the world and His people through His eyes, not your own.
Jesus teaches us to do two things: to put others first and to live intentionally. As nice and easy as that sounds, living intentionally while being focused on others can easily cause an internal struggle in our hearts. It is in our human nature to think about ourselves first. Why? I don't know! It makes sense when we spend all day in our own heads and making decisions that directly affect us. If each of our lives were a story, we would be our own main character, but we can't be all that God has called us to be unless we surrender our own desires to His. Wow! What a concept!
In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” In order to deny ourselves, we surrender our own wants and ask God to show us how to follow Him in loving our neighbors and building His kingdom.
It may not be as drastic as you think. God isn’t commanding us to stop doing things we enjoy or taking our happiness into account when we make decisions. Denying ourselves means submitting our lives to God daily. It means recognizing that while we may be our own main characters, God is the one writing the story and He has a perfect plan in mind. When we deny ourselves, we allow space for God to rewire our hearts so that we no longer need to put ourselves first.
Mark 12:30-31 says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself, there is no greater commandment than these.” When we let a lens of self-focus blur our vision, we are unable to see the needs of those around us. It’s impossible to love our neighbors as ourselves and be self-serving at the same time. It takes getting to know His Word and His heart and everyday asking God to show you the world and His people through His eyes, not your own.
WORD
Matthew 22:37-39: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Luke 9:23: Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Mark 12:30-31: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”
John 13:34-35: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
WORSHIP
Think about the worship songs below and enter a time of worship. May these worship songs bless you during your time of fellowship with God.
PRAYER
Lord, I give myself away to you. I deny myself and take up my cross to follow You. I shift my focus onto you. I look to You as my identity, purpose and affirmation. Holy Spirit, give me the focus today to love others as you love me. Let me live each day intentionally with bold and active faith. I deny myself means I push my agenda to the side and I set your agenda first. Give me wisdom and strength to walk in the path of righteousness. I pray, dear heavenly Father, to know you, your Word and your heart intimately. I pray everyday that you show me the world and your people as you see them and not through my own eyes. Help me to show love to others as you show love to me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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