Christian Living

Daily Self Denial

by Rev. Dr. R.J. Lightsey 
09/05/17
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Daily Self-Denial

Matthew 16:21-26

Receiving salvation is an event – living a saved life is a process. Too often we see salvation as a one-time event and then it’s all over. Such is not the case. There is a standard we believers must abide by if we are to serve and love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. Your daily walk is not reduced to simply remembering the day and place you received salvation. But after the receiving, there is a daily commitment to live a life that’s pleasing to God. Herein lies the difficulty and the challenge.

Christ has given us the charge of practicing daily self-denial if in fact we are to continue following Him. Matthew 16:24-26 reads, “if any man comes after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

To “deny” yourself means to refuse your own claims upon yourself. To “take up” means to lift up – to lift up Jesus (even in times of burden and despair) for all to see. Remember, Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John12:32). Christ was lifted up from the ground while on the cross for all to see His suffering death. You and I must lift Him up daily by bearing our crosses and burdens as we follow Him. In doing so, we present Him as the risen Savior for all the world to see. You must be willing to spiritually kill your flesh man every day to deny what you want and what you lay claim to in your life. You must be willing to daily take up your cross and say to the Lord, “I’ll do what makes you happy. Have Thine own way, not my will but Your will be done.

Jesus commanded satan to get behind Him (Matt. 16:23) because he did not desire and cherish the things of God nor did he see things from God’s point of view. When you follow the Master, you see what He sees. The more you see what He sees the more you like what He sees and the more you follow Him because He orders your steps as you go. The steps of a righteous man are ordered (directed) by the Lord.

Have you “died through self-denial” today? Do you continue to follow God by refusing your own claims on your life? Do you daily remind yourself of your commitment by saying, “I’ve been bought with a price and that price is the precious redeeming blood of Jesus?”

Denying yourself does not mean giving up God’s blessings and favor. Quite the contrary, it means following Him so all His blessings and favor will follow you and overtake you. God rewards those who diligently seek and follow Him (Hebrews 11:6). You don’t get paid first, you follow first. If you want to get what God’s got you’ve got to go where God’s going. Deny yourself today and every day and present Christ to the world by following and obeying His commands. You’ll be glad you did!