Many modern days Christians believe they are entitled to good things because they believe in God and His Word. Well… This is not quite what the Scriptures say.
Self denial simply means: not to seek our own interests and pursue personal ambitions. In other words, it’s setting other people first – and in our context, it’s putting God and His kingdom at the very core of our daily lives.
Jesus’ life and ministry reflect the perfect example of self-denial.
- He was the Son of God (and still is), yet He left His throne in Heaven, to come to the earth to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
- He had no worldly possessions (Luke 8:1-3, Luke 9:58).
- He was gentle and humble (Matthew 11:29).
- He cared for the people (Mark 6:30-44).
- He didn’t claim the kingdom of Israel – which was His – from the Romans (John 6:15, John 18:33-37).
- He came to serve and not to be served (Mark 10:45, John 13:1-17).
- He did His father’s will (not His own) all the time of His ministry on earth (John 6:38).
- He died so that we (sinners) can be saved from our sins (Matthew 1:21, John 12:32, Hebrews 9:16-28).
Jesus denied Himself entirely, and so should we all, His followers.
As we journey through this life, waiting for the Savior to come back as He promised, should material things and social advancement really matter and take that big of a place in our hearts to the point of derailing us completely from the Gospel?
Christ shed His blood and died on a cross two thousand years ago… Was it to lavish us with ‘financial blessings’ and ‘prosperity’, or to save us from our innumerable sins and the second death?
I pray that the Holy Spirit convicts us all of the latter. Amen!