01 Aug W1: Deny Ourselves
REFERENCE BIBLE VERSES
Mark 8:34-36 (NIV) | Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
OBJECTIVE
To understand that we are to deny ourselves from the sins of the world and take up the cross.
CONTENT
- We have to make a decision everyday to deny ourselves and take up the cross
- Jesus presents a radical call to discipleship – a call to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Firstly, to “deny oneself” does not merely mean self-deprivation. It is a call to surrender our own will, desires, and ambitions to the will of God. In a world that often encourages self-indulgence and self-promotion, Jesus challenges us to shift our focus from self to Him.
- In the context of Jesus’ time, the cross was an instrument of suffering and death. Taking up our cross symbolizes embracing the difficulties, hardships, and even persecution that may accompany discipleship. It’s a reminder that following Christ comes with a cost, yet it is a cost worth paying for.
- Denying ourselves is a choice that we have to make everyday. Most of us don’t have one big moment to deny ourselves from, but we have many moments everyday to make a decision if we want to listen to our flesh desires or to the Holy Spirit.
- We are tempted daily with many sins and pleasures of the world, and every time we face them, we have to say “no” and remember the cross. When we are put in a situation we can lie or tell the truth, we can gossip or not, we can say mean things or nice things to our parents/spouses, we make a decision again and again to deny our fleshly desires and take up the cross.
- It is not an easy journey
- When we are faced with temptation, it challenges us to rethink our priorities, recognizing that true life and fulfillment are found in wholeheartedly following Christ, even if it means sacrificing worldly comforts. The rhetorical question, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” compels us to evaluate the worth of our pursuits. Earthly achievements, wealth, and fame may seem valuable, but when weighed against the eternal destiny of our souls, they pale in comparison. Jesus invites us to consider the lasting impact of our choices and investments, urging us to prioritize the eternal over the temporal.
- Following Christ comes with tremendous challenges. It requires perseverance, but remember, Jesus’ sacrifice paved the way for our lives to be transformed, reborn into something new.
REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTION
- Share about a recent experience when you have to deny yourself from the pleasures of the world and choose to take up the cross.
- Share about something that you sacrificed because you choose to follow God.
REFERENCES