“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
I do love God’s Word. His truths bring absolute comfort, peace and assurance. His Word also penetrates our hearts with conviction and the command to yield to His Spirit and pursue His holiness.
This devotion from “Day by Day” on Wednesday 2/17 was one of those where God’s Word penetrated my heart and caused me to ask Him to search my heart. I thought I’d share it today.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
“Deny Yourself”
“Deny Yourself”
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. (Matthew 16:24)
Sin causes us to be self-centered, shifting our hearts from God to self. The essence of salvation is an about-face from self-centeredness to God-centeredness. The Christian must spend a lifetime denying self. Our great temptation will be to affirm ourselves while we follow Jesus. James and John did this when they chose to follow Jesus but asked for the two most prominent positions in Jesus’ kingdom (Mark 10:35–37). James and John wanted a discipleship that would not impede their personal desires and aspirations. Like them, we say, “Lord, I want to be pleasing to you, but I want to stay where I am.”
Self-centered people try to keep their lives unruffled and undisturbed, safe and secure. Our temptation is to give our time and effort to the goals of this world. Then, when we are successful in the world’s eyes, we seek to bring God into our world by honoring Him with our success. We may say, “Now that I have succeeded in business [or sports, or politics, or with my family, or even Christian ministry], I want to give God the glory for it!” God is not interested in receiving secondhand glory from our activity. God receives glory from His activity through our lives.
The world will entice you to adopt its goals and to invest in temporal things. Resist the temptation to pursue your own goals, asking God to bless them. Rather, deny yourself and join the activity of God as He reveals it to you.
The world will entice you to adopt its goals and to invest in temporal things. Resist the temptation to pursue your own goals, asking God to bless them. Rather, deny yourself and join the activity of God as He reveals it to you.
“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word.”
Isaiah 66:2
Amen!
I loved listening to Kari Jobe as I read this devotion!
Love you!
Jill
I love this Sharon!
I have tried to put into words how this resonates with me and how important it is to guard our hearts in this area but the words aren't coming out right. 🙂
I think this sums it up well…
"The Christian must spend a lifetime denying self. Our great temptation will be to affirm ourselves while we follow Jesus."
It is a continuous, lifetime struggle.
I love your heart for Truth!
good stuff…
thanks for sharing…
Wow, these are powerful words, Sharon. Denying self…two words that are SO difficult to live out. I especially struggle with them in the four walls of my home. Thank you for this teaching today. Much needed words for this wife and mother.
Love you,
Wendy