In a self-centered culture self-denial seems evil. Even worse, it seems stupid. Self-defeating. How can we fulfill ourselves if we deny ourselves?
Jesus taught radical ideas. He was very counter-cultural. Still is.“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 10:39; 16:24).
To find your life you must lose it. To follow Jesus requires saying no to self and that is the way to self-fulfillment.
The life and death of Jesus accomplished everything necessary to return us to our created purpose; namely, loving God above all and our neighbors instead of our selves. Jesus opens the gates of our self-created prison of sin and slavery and points out the path of freedom. But we hesitate. Why?
Why are we so comfortable in our current prison of darkness and why are we so afraid to walk into light’s freedom? What gnaws at our living trust in Christ’s comfort and care? What prevents us from returning God’s love? Why don’t we put the needs of others ahead of ourselves?
Because we love our old selves and are, sadly, content in our self-imposed prisons. Our self-love and immediate personal peace resist the central engine that drives the Christian life – change!!
We especially cower from dealing with our failures, weaknesses, and our, obvious-to-everyone-else, needs. Those are the chains that bind us to the prison cell and nurture a false contentment. We don’t want to change or to have our flaws exposed. ‘Better the devil we know’ we wrongly think. So, we lay content in our prison and refuse the more difficult road of discipleship.
Yet, Jesus calls us to be disciples – to learn a better way to live – to grow. He calls us higher, and that means change. To grow in grace is to improve. It is to die a little to your old self and live a little more to God. It is making God the engine and self the caboose that follows in His train.
When we willingly change to take the plank out of our own eyes we begin to see clearly to assist others in removing their specks. And, when we overcome our stubborn failures by the mighty grace of God, we are more willing to extend that grace to others in their struggles to change.
We can have peace with God and war with self at the same time. The price of discipleship is high; die to self, admit flaws, change. The reward of discipleship staggers – God himself!
So, come after Jesus. Follow Him. Deny yourself and be fulfilled!