Deny Yourself

Why must we deny ourselves? The premise of this blog is to state why if we do deny ourselves we can get in line with our walk in Christ. Being a Christian isn't going to be a walk in the park. Philippians 3:18-20 gives an awesome illustration! As Christians we all strive to be like Jesus and have a mind as such. How many of us would wash the feet of our friends? I know right. Jesus spent forty days fasting in the wilderness with the devil beside trying to tempt Him. Most can't get from breakfast to lunch without getting hungry and not even thinking about Jesus. We can't resist the temptation of a quick dollar or scheme to get ahead. Would you want a Judas in your life, someone you consider a friend that sets you up to be killed; tempted by money! Can you stand to be ridiculed and thought to be crazy by your closet family members? One would be affected deeply to get slander from those we love so dearly. How would life be if you came to help others from peril and they shun you. Then they mock, ridicule and scoff at you. Then for the sake of others you are put to death so that they may live; knowing that they will be ungrateful and unappreciative. Do you still want to be like Jesus? Christian life isn't supposed to be glamorous. Matthew 16:24 tells us that if we are to follow after Jesus we are to deny ourselves and take up our cross. Pick up that cross and don't look back. Keep your eyes on Jesus and eternity alone.  

Everything man and woman wants to do in this world is contradicted by the Gospel unless your life includes exalting God and humbling yourself. Depression, anxiety, and suicide is on sweeping climb. We now have children and teenagers committing the act of suicide. My sympathy to their families. It is such a sad thing that children who haven't experienced life feel such despair that at thirteen they decide to kill themselves. How can this be? We are the richest nation but our citizens are poor and miserable, spiritually and mentally. How can someone living the "American Dream" be so desirable but many are in debt trying to obtain it, be so desperate that they are afflicted with alcohol and drug addiction to an extent that some are nearly unrecognizable in 5 years. We have gone wrong when we become self-centered, full of self-pity, self concerned and full of self interest. Isn't it a coincidence Jesus tells us to deny ourselves. 

Concerned with how peers and society perceives us has left many in debt, weary trying to please everyone and broken in spirit due to a search of happiness in impenetrable darkness tripped up by the devil (Proverbs 4:19). Drowning in weariness and sadness because we are devoid of pleasures or the pleasure we sought and attained aren't what we thought they were. Many will perish because they conceive that life can be managed without God; and if we do need God it's only in dire situations. God isn't a good luck charm or repair kit for our life to use at our disposal. If someone only came to you when they needed you, you would label them a selfish and opportunistic individual. Denying oneself can be a very contradictory statement but it is paradoxical also in a sense if we deny ourselves and live humbly under God we will have no worries. It is the way God ordained us to live. John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of the world cometh and hath nothing on me.  The devil couldn't bother Jesus and that is why we are urged to be like Jesus and deny ourselves. Why did Jesus say such, because He was doing the will of the Father whom the devil has no stance against. If we do the will of the Father how can the devil have hold on us. Quite frankly if I were not to exist this world would still go on without me. What are we owed by God? Pascal said this about God and man; "If he exalts himself, I will humble him, if he humbles himself I will exalt him and I always contradict him till he understands that he is an incomprehensible monster"

We are born sinners into a fallen and increasingly wicked world. We travel, if, without proper guidance or refusal thereof through life knowingly and unknowingly ignorant of God. The first being the worst. We search to no end for wisdom and knowledge of this world. Incurring debt because of schooling, embarrassment due to being misguided, frustrated by the lack thereof from peers and puzzled why we even wasted the time trying to figure out this complex and delusional world and its occupants. Somewhere along the line we are summoned by God Almighty to come to and find the wisdom we are seeking and few heed the warnings and wooing. Those who do, patiently and obediently along with humility and sincerity, garner the understanding that the wisdom offered by God is the only true wisdom needed to sojourner this interlude until the judgement of eternal life. We are back where we started born again in this world but this time with the wisdom we yearned for. Some luckily sooner than others but nevertheless at the culmination of peace and contentment injected with the love and guidance of God. Clinging to Him as children to their mother for nurturing all the days of our remaining life. We are ignorant to the world but forever in spiritual childhood for God is our only source that leads to eternal life. Matthew 15:3 lest we be as little children we can't enter Heaven.

As a fellow Christian I urge you deny yourself and give up yourself to God. Reason one, Psalms 115:3 But our God sits in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he pleases. Reason two, Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Reason three, Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. I can continue on but what reassurance in those three verses. Lastly God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). God is our creator and is full of love and also severity and of he doesn't judge us accordingly He be contradicting Himself and we know such not to be possible (Romans 11:22). Everyday we are patiently waiting on the Lord, obediently following His laws and commandments and praying in the Holy Spirit. I say again when you take up your cross  leave this world cheerfully and not tearfully. Examine yourself 1 Peter 4:18 and if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? You can reference Matthew 7 also, few who profess Lord Lord will enter. I don't say this to scare you but to let you know that our walk with Christ must be meticulous and methodical. It's more serious that we can imagine. Pray!

Malachi 2:17 Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

As I concluded I would like to share 2 John 1:1, my little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Many may disagree but don't let anyone persuade you that because you are "human" you can't help but sin. Try to live everyday of your life as if God was watching you continually, because he is. Greater is he that is in us that the world. Examining this verse, we are told to sin not; not sin less, it is cut off. Secondly if any man sin, not when we sin. If we believe the Bible to be the absolute truth we can live life not as sinners but as followers of Christ. Sinners live life doing such. Followers of Christ live as such not in sin and if they repent immediately. Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I live in the flesh I live by FAITH of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. God's love and blessings to all. A man intimate with God is not intimidated by men - Leonard Ravenhill.