Dying to Self Everyday
Luke 9:23-24
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Luke 9:23-24
Paradoxically, it is only by dying that we may truly live. When we are baptised, we would have died to our old nature and rose again to new life in Christ. It would have been perfect if the old person of sin had miraculously and permanently died when we were submerged underwater. But alas, sooner rather than later, we have all discovered that our past habits and tendencies are still alive and do endeavour to regain control of our lives. You see, post water baptism doesn’t automatically make us dead to all fleshly things. After baptism, our old nature must be put to death daily, continually. It is for this reason Jesus Christ associated the believers’ life with a cross.
Many of us think that the cross we must bear is either a serious illness, permanent disability, abuse, or unfavourable circumstances in life. Not negating their seriousness, the meaning of Jesus’s words goes further. ‘To take up our cross’ simply means to deny ourselves worldly pleasures daily. Not a ‘one-off time’ or on occasions but every single day; our complete being.
It is not easy to deny ourselves. Our old nature lingers on; refusing to die. No one can empty himself/herself completely. We must depend on Jesus Christ to accomplish the work. It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this surrender of self is to be made. There must be a daily surrendering to the Lord. The Word of God says that “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” – Galatians 2:20 (NKJV).
Let us examine ourselves, when was the last time you died to ‘self’?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive us for thinking we can do it all on our own. Lord, take my heart, keep it pure. Save me in spite of myself, my weak self. Father God, mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy person. May Your love continue to flow through me. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Read: Luke 9:23-27; Galatians 2:20-21; Philippians 1:19-21
Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 13:10-19; John 18:1-24; 1 Samuel 21; 1 Samuel 22; 1 Samuel 23
