“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
??Matthew? ?16:24? ?NIV??
I’m sure most of you who are reading this have heard this verse. For most of my life this verse never really had any significance or stood out like other verses did. I was always in awe of the verses in the bible that talked about to the miracles that Jesus did or the amazing ways God worked through people. Now, I want to bring you into what this verse means to me.
I always have had this pursuit to have a friends who liked me, a wife who loved me and money that could buy me what I want when I wanted it. For the past couple of years I have been constantly trying to please my friends. I would use my money to buy them drinks at the bar, drive them home from the bars when they needed it and countless other things. I wanted to pursue a relationship with them so that they would like me. I even went so far to do things I knew were wrong to be friends with certain people. I was a different person when I was around my friends from the church. I would go and help out at events, I would go to certain bible studies and pray with them when needed.
I have also pursued women thinking that if I got a girlfriend, who later I would hopefully marry, then I would be happy. I would go to the ends of the earth for her. Even the thought of that relationship consumed and still consumes my mind. I want nothing more than to be loved and love a woman and be proud to call her mine.
Lastly there comes this passion for money. Although I will admit I do love to spend my money on others, it wasn’t always for good. I have put this pressure on myself to make a lot of money. I wanted to be able to provide for my family and also have money left over to live “The American Dream”. I always wanted a big house, nice car and a lavish wardrobe. This is what I wanted, this is what I thought would make me happy.
I was watching a sermon by Kyle Idleman and he talks about this verse and what it truly means. To “deny yourself” and follow Jesus. It means to say no to what your flesh wants and PURSUE Jesus and His calling on your life. Then he said this in his sermon:
“The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them.”.
That is what I was doing my whole life. I would get close to Jesus while never giving up my friends, my money and my pursuit for what my flesh wants. I want to pursue Jesus like I pursued my friendships, my money and one day my wife but even greater than that. I want God to consume my thoughts, my actions, my wants and desires. But first I must deny my flesh, which isn’t easy but necessary to truly love the Lord.
Now this verse means a lot more to me. My pursuit is Jesus. I must deny my flesh, take up my cross DAILY and Passionately Pursue my Heavenly Father.
Much Love,
Mack
