Jesus Christ demands self-denial, that is, self-negation (Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23), as a necessary condition of discipleship. Self-denial is a summons to submit to the authority of God as Father and of Jesus as Lord and to declare lifelong war on one's instinctive egoism. What is to be negated is not personal self or one's existence as a rational and responsible human being. Jesus does not plan to turn us into zombies, nor does he ask us to volunteer for a robot role. The required denial is of carnal self, the egocentric, self-deifying urge with which we were born and which dominates us so ruinously in our natural state. Jesus links self-denial with cross-bearing. Cross-bearing is far more than enduring this or that hardship. Carrying one's cross in Jesus' day, as we learn from the story of Jesus' own crucifixion, was required of those whom society had condemned, whose rights were forfeit, and who were now being led out to their execution. The cross they carried was the instrument of death. Jesus represents discipleship as a matter of following him, and following him as based on taking up one's cross in self-negation. Carnal self would never consent to cast us in such a role. "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die," wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was right: Accepting death to everything that carnal self wants to possess is what Christ's summons to self-denial was all about.
J.I. Packer

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Word for Today, Fri, 27 Jul 2001: A Quiet Walk is Vital to Your Health

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#1 · July 27, 2001, 9:45 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

As another work week comes to a close, I would like to encourage
you to stay in the Word (that means read the Bible regularly,
every day if possible). I would also like to encourage you to
think about God continually, and pray often. That does not mean
that we have to be "jabbering" endlessly. In fact, I would argue
that it is good to be purposeful about being quiet. The busier
our lives are, the more important it is to be quiet before God.
I certainly identify with that because my life is busy, indeed.
I NEED that advice!

Today's message, in fact, comes from a mailing list called "Quiet
Walk". I find these messages to be consistently good. They
always contain scripture, and encourage us to use the scriptures
as a basis on which to form our prayers. Mow that does not, in
any way, mean that our prayers are not to be personal. Quite the
contrary. But often, we can use the words of scripture to help
us think about the Goodness of God, His nature, and the kind of
attitudes that are pleasing to Him.

I really like the scriptures in today's lesson. I personally use
these same scriptures often myself - in fact, those of you who
have read this list for a while have almost certainly seen these
scriptures quoted before. To me, scripture has a timelessness
about it, and each time I read it and think about it, the words
not only remind me of God, but they often bring situations from
my life to the forefront and help me to examine or reexamine them
with truth and honesty.

Speaking of honesty, most of us try to be honest most of the
time. Yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we have a way of
even deceiving our own hearts, particularly if we are not aware
that such things happen. I am the first to admit that I am prone
to this. Only with the clear words of the scripture do the true
intentions, deep within my heart become revealed. Far too much
"dirt" comes out. Then I have a choice to make. I can either
get the dirt cleaned up (by asking Jesus Christ to permeate my
spirit with His, forgiving me and cleansing me), or I can pretend
that nothing is wrong. The latter approach is self destructive.
Trust me, I've done it --- doesn't work!

Therefore, as brothers and sisters in Christ, I urge all of you
to earnestly examine yourselves today, seek the truth that Jesus
Christ offers, and renew (or begin) your personal relationship
with Him. This would be a good time, right here, right now.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

Reply-to: Quiet Walk <quietwalk@lists.crosswalk.com>
Subject: Quiet Walk for Friday, July 27, 2001
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 14:32:38 -0400

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____________________________

Q U I E T W A L K D E V O T I O N A L
by Walk Thru the Bible

BIBLE READING

Acts 24

OVERVIEW
Felix hears the charges against Paul.

INSIGHT
Unless a person has, as Paul describes it, "a conscience
without offense toward God and men" (v.16), he is
without moral authority. Not that anyone can live without
ever offending God and peopleno one can. But when we
offend, we can admit it, ask for forgiveness, and offer
to provide restitution if appropriate.

If the Lord brings to mind someone we have offendedor if
the Holy Spirit convicts us of attitudes or actions that
offend the Lordwe must repent and ask forgiveness. It
can often be difficult, but when we have done it, we have
"a conscience without offense toward God and men." We
have moral authority to call others to righteous
livingthrough our words and our example.

PRAYER

* Thank the Lord for His forgiveness and for His daily
loving protection:

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in
all generations...
Even from everlasting to everlasting,
You are God (Psalm 90:1-2).

* Pause for a moment of praise. Now pray this
confession to the Lord:

No temptation has overtaken me except such as is
common to man; but You are faithful, who will not
allow me to be tempted beyond what I am able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of escape,
that I may be able to bear it
(based on 1 Corinthians 10:13).

* As you confess your sins, voice your affirmation of
God's Word:

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
(Micah 6:8).

* As you make your requests known to the Lord, pray
for:

faithfulness in sharing Christ,
the Lord's work in national and
world affairs,
a deeper understanding of God's
character.

* Offer this prayer of worship to the Lord:

Now to Him who is able to keep us from
stumbling,
And to present us faultless
Before the presence of His glory with
exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen (based on Jude)

-----------
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rights reserved. See http://www.walkthru.org/ for more
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Walk Thru the Bible.

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=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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