Here is the meaning of denying self if one is to become a companion with Christ as He builds and battles. Yes, He builds His church and it is to be a force as it fights the foes of God and man. So, who can He depend upon in this campaign? Those who take up their cross and deny self. As G. Campbell Morgan says, Christ wants "really faithful, consecrated souls far more than patronizing multitudes." "By the three hundred will I save" we learn in the story of Gideon. A multitude of 32,000 seemingly ready to fight, but only three hundred truly ready to die. These three hundred were committed and they obeyed. These two things are included in those who follow Him...to trust and obey. Often the church speaks of trust but precious little is heard of obey because to obey means to deny self, and to obey and deny self is not a popular message today. Yet this is the message Christ used to sift the crowds gathered about Him. To obey leads to sanctification, to obey leads to purity of body, mind and soul, to obey leads you to carry your cross. And after the cross comes resurrection.
To deny self is the most difficult final step in following Christ. It is a moment-by-moment struggle as well as a singular event to be faced. To quote Morgan again; it is the thing "that must be set right, the friendship that must be dropped, the habit that must be abandoned, the restitution that has to be made, the pride the has to be humbled, the prejudice that has to be crucified."
So help us God not only to trust and accept His grace and mercy, but to finally obey.
Trust and Obey...I don't think we'd need trust if we weren't obeying would we? In that case, they go hand in hand, and to claim that we are trusting when we aren't obeying is to not actually trust Jesus at all. And yes, of course, this begins with humility.
ReplyDeleteWe can't trust and obey without a heart that is willing; one that is bowed in reverence and respect and adoration. "Blessed are the poor in spirit..." tells us that God looks upon the humble; those who view themselves as nothing other than what God has given and created. The path must begin end end with humility.