Mark 8:34, Deny himself. The inordinate love of self is the greatest obstacle to following Yeshua wholeheartedly.
The chief characteristic of a life dominated by self is possessiveness. Evidence of this is that to one degree or another one has forced Elohim out of the center of one’s life and has crowned himself as his own king and has given himself over to the coveting of things and the exaltation of self. To such a person, self-life has become their main focus and fiercest passion.
Moreover, surrounding oneself with many physical possessions causes one to feel elevated in that it makes one the ruler of one’s own kingdom—the kingdom of stuff and self. With such a person, the pronouns I and me are constantly heard from their lips, and they have becomes their own god and the leader of their own religious sect—the religion of self.
To the tyranny of things that largely monopolizes most men’s endeavors, Yeshua says “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” Elsewhere he says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:3). Finally, our Master leaves us with these words to ponder,
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. (Mark 8:35)
Mark 8:36, Profit …gain. When self is the king of one’s life, one’s chief goal becomes profit and gain. As Yeshua suggests in verse 34, the opposite of this is to deny oneself and to follow Yeshua, no matter the cost. For example,
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Matt 10:37–39)
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve Elohim and mammon. (Matt 6:24)
I don’t want to sell fish! 🙂
He who dies with the most toys is still dead 🙂
He that does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
I repent of not always seeing Him above negative situations. I become too focused in them trying to respond in fleshy way or the way the world taught us.
I then lose sight of Yeshua and though temporarily I am not following Him.
I thank Him that eventually I hear Him calling me and praise my way out of the mess.
There is no other way. He is the only Way, the Truth and the Life. There is no room for self in this Way of Life.
Thank you for this.
Aren’t life situations so much better when we take the approach you’ve outlined? Such an orientation isn’t self-delusion as some who are unaware of spiritual realities might presume. Rather, it is a way to connect into the reality of the Spirit realm and the spiritual path that leads to our Father in heaven. It’s the upward path that Yeshua so frequently taught about and was encouraging his followers to embark on.
Self-denial is the way to begin to live your new life with Jesus. Together, as one, we
cooperate spiritually. We are together as He teaches, sharing a yoke. We are together as I follow Him. Jesus wants to be seen in all His glory while his disciples are glorified with Him. Until that time, by the Spirit, as believers allow the Spirit’s work in them, they will grow in godliness.
Remember, life isn’t about me. It’s about we.