come after Me, he must deny himself and
-Luke 9:23
A man must deny self-esteem. Every man by nature has a high opinion of himself. He is drunk with spiritual pride. A proud man
disdains the cross. He thinks himself too good to suffer. Oh deny self-esteem!
Let the plumes of pride fall off!
A man must deny carnal self. This I take to be the chief sense of the text. He must deny carnal
ease. The flesh cries out for ease. It is loath to
put its neck under Christ’s yoke or
stretch itself upon the cross. The flesh cries out, “Oh! the cross of Christ is heavy! There are nails in that cross which will lacerate, and fetch blood!” We must deny our self-ease, and be
as a deaf adder, stopping our ears
to the charmings of the flesh! Those who lean on the soft pillow of sloth, will hardly take up the cross.
This self-denying frame of heart is very hard. This is “to pluck out the right eye.” It is easier to
overcome men and devils, than to overcome
self. “Stronger is he who conquers himself, than he who conquers the
strongest walled city.”
SELF is the idol, and how hard it is to
sacrifice this idol and to turn self-seeking
into self-denial! But though it is difficult-it is essential. A Christian must first lay down self-before he can take up the cross.
Alas! how far are they then from self-denial, who cannot deny themselves in the least things; who in their
diet or apparel, instead of martyring the flesh-pamper the flesh! Instead of taking up the cross-take up their cups! Is this
self-denial, to let loose the reins to the flesh? Oh Christians, as ever you would be able to carry Christ’s cross, begin to
deny yourselves.
“Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or
mother or children or property, for My sake, will receive a hundred times as
much in return and will have eternal life!”
choice bargain!
