Matthew 16:24
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ ”
Our biggest problem is us. I am my biggest problem. Self is a thick root of the Old Life that serves as the platform for evil to ride on. Self is the connector between my life and the life of Satan. Self is the womb in which every form of ungodliness and deceitfulness is formed. The truth is that without this ugly fiber of unregenerate life, Satan would be paralyzed; because Satan can only operate in partnership with someone. The troubles of this life will cease, and the powers of hell would be drastically curtailed if Self were dethroned from the life of Man. That’s why Jesus’ diagnosis and prescription is so pertinent. The solution to life’s problems lies in the denial and crucifixion of Self.
Self must be denied if I will gain personal victory. Self must be put to death by reason of the work on the cross if I will succeed to follow Jesus. Death and denial are the crucial combinations that produce godly fruits from human existence. The self-life must not be celebrated but extinguished, for only after that can the God-life begin to blossom. If following Jesus is the core of discipleship, then the double D of death and denial of Self cannot be overstated as the means through which discipleship happens. I cannot live unless I learn to die.
“You, O Lord, are able to save me from myself and I know that I cannot follow You unless I first deal with the rotten root of Self. Show me daily how to deny Me and how to daily look to You to crucify Me, in Jesus name. Amen.”
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