Self-Denial

 

The word for today is YIELD. A simple search in the English Bible gives only nine references using almost as many different Greek words. Most of them mean to produce something, or give off something which is what the word used here means:

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. (Matthew 27:50)

The only one that speaks of consecration to God in the sense of giving all of me into His care is expressed in a negative sense in relation to false teachers:

… to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (Galatians 2:5)

A better term is SELF-DENIAL It means to deny myself by repudiating any gratification of self-centered desires and values that are outside of God's will and will not glorify Him. One writer describes it as getting out of the driver’s seat so that God is in that place, denying self any right to master my life. 

Jesus said it this way: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) This “cross” is not about hardships as many use the term, but about dying to our old way of life.

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Romans 6:6)

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)

These verses make it clear that this is about considering “self’ being separated from God in a state called spiritual death, the state of anyone who is not “alive” through faith in Christ. However…

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Because this is true, I can live accordingly. Being able to deny sin and selfishness affirms that I believe the above verse. It is a faith issue. If I think I have rights and my way is okay, then I am not believing God, at least not for everyday life. Yet God’s Word affirms that those who believe in Christ for eternal life only will learn otherwise:

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11–14)

As God teaches me to deny self, He also teaches me to identify self. I want good things, but good may not be best. It is His will to which I must yield, not my own, no matter how good my desires might seem. Jesus did say, “Not my will but thine be done.” For that reason, the goal is to… “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14) and to “present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is my spiritual worship, and to not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of my mind, that by testing I may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2, personalized)

PRAY: Lord, in the busyness and duties of this day, remind me often that Your will means abundant life and the very best for me. Help me think that way when the challenges come. They always do, and You are always here to guide me into self-denial and being wholly yielded to Your will. Amen.

An Obvious Theme . . .

 

READ Matthew 1–4

At the command of an angel, Joseph married a pregnant virgin. At the appearing of a star, Maji went searching for a king. They were told to report to a foreign king but warned in a dream, they did not. In another dream, an angel told Joseph to flee to Egypt and he took the child and his mother and fled, returning only when another angel told him it was safe.

Told by the Lord to do so, John the Baptist told people to repent. When Jesus requested to be baptized, John was unsure of the need, but consented and obeyed.

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He went, even fasted and passed the tests from the evil one. He, God in human flesh, submitted to the ministry of angels. Then He also preached repentance. He called Simon and Andrew from the fishing to follow Him. Immediately they left their nets and followed Him, as did John and James.

He healed the sick and cast out demons and the people brought the sick and those afflicted; He healed them all and great crowds followed Him.

I’m thinking how slow I can be to hear Him call and then do exactly what He asks. Would I be more apt to obey and quicker if angels told me what to do? If I had dreams giving me directions? If He came to me while I was working and specified exactly what He wanted? If I could see Him? If He answered all my prayers for healing and spiritual victories? Or do I make excuses, have my own agenda, make my own plans, and just want to keep doing my own thing?

His disciples dropped what they were doing and went. Yesterday, Jesus kept whispering to me to come aside and pray. Yes, He helped me with the project that had me preoccupied, but I didn’t drop it to give Him my full attention. I’d chat, briefly, then return to my project.

James and John paid a price to follow Jesus: And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:19–22)

 They left their nets and their father, their jobs and their families. All He asked me to leave was a project that would still be there after I finished praying. They obeyed immediately, a word translated from eutheos, meaning at once or instantly, without any hesitation. This entire reading is about obedience, and as a test of my response to Jesus, I flunk far too often or don’t give Him my full attention.

Lord God, I know You forgive and give second-chances. I also know my salvation does not depend on me in any way except that obedience shows that You have redeemed me. This habit of being easily distracted to do my own thing needs to change. I know that I cannot rescue myself or make myself be totally surrendered. I can only yield to You each time You ask until obedience becomes the norm instead of a battleground. Make me more like You, whatever it takes.

 

God speaks and I must listen . . .

 

READ Luke 9-12

I’m using this year’s devotional like a reading plan in that I listen for what the Lord says to me (rhema) rather than pay much attention to the author who is doing the same thing. What strikes him as important when he read those chapters may not be for me. I’m having only one problem; these readings in the Gospels are filled with the words of Jesus and I hear Him in every line. Of course all of it is important but this space is limited. Today, He puts my focus is on these things:

First, Jesus speaks about priorities. I’ve been criticized for not using my skills, for settling with a life of mostly prayer, helping family and making quilts for needy people. Some people think I should do more, bigger and better.

This is Jesus’ take on that: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Luke 9:23–25)

Perhaps I could have gained a reputation and livelihood from art or writing or other things yet I knew that Jesus calls me to deny personal ambitions and die to self-gain. This life is not all there is. He wants my focus on being like Him, telling others of His kingdom and having an eternal perspective that trusts Him to take care of life’s necessities so I don’t need to worry about them.

Second, there is a connection between personal ambition and spiritual blindness. Jesus’ disciples marveled at what He was doing in the line of miracles but were clueless about His main mission. He told them yet their hearts were not on that but on their hopes for personal fame and being greater than everyone else . . .

And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying. An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.” John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:43–50)

Being significant is not the same as being the best and lording it over others. Jesus wants childlike trust not cocky ambition.

Third, I can go the other direction and feel as if my life is not worth much to the Lord. Yet He says to me: “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:6–7) His eye is on the sparrow — and I know He cares for me no matter what I or others think of my offer.

Fourth, if someone hurts me or robs me of anything, instead of asking God to deal with them and for fair play, Jesus wants me to take care of my own attitude and priorities. When someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me,” He said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?  . . . Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:13–15)

Clearly these thoughts are about having an eternal perspective and relying on the Lord for what I need in this life. Also, I’m to take care of my own sin rather than asking God to deal with someone who sins against me. When that happens, it might be the Lord showing me in the way I respond to whatever they did how selfish and faithless I am. He tells me not to be anxious; if someone takes my stuff, God knows what I need and He will supply. After all, He takes care of sparrows! My role is to first seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and trust Him with all things. He alone is worthy — and also totally capable!