" If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16, Mark 8, Luke 9)
I have been thinking about this verse the past few days and found 3 distinct aspects of this, all of which must be considered. First there is the denial of self. Aparneomai: a) to affirm that one has no acquaintance or connection with someone; b) to forget one's self, lose sight of one's self and one's own interests. However God, knowing me, did not stop there because it is far to easy for me to throw myself a pity party when I am denying myself, complaining and whining every time I do not get my desires. Or if I am not throwing myself a pity party, then I am boasting in my good works of sacrifice. Self denial does not make me a disciple of Christ. Do you see how easy it is to nullify the work of denying self by making it all about "me".
God knows me, and knows that if He is to get glory out of my following Him, I must go beyond denying myself. I must take up my cross. A cross is not just a fashion statement that I am to carry around as a proclamation to all that I am following Christ. The cross is a tool used to put a man to death. Sounds like fun right? A.W. Tozer said, "you knew one thing about a man that was carrying a cross out of the city, you knew he wasn't coming back." The cross is where, through repentance, I am able to overcome this flesh. At the cross denial of self becomes Christ being glorified. It is through the work of the cross that my very thought process is changed, and it is no longer me pitying myself for having to put to death the deeds of the flesh, or my boasting, but me choosing to be spiritually minded. Because to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.(Romans 8:6 )That is why Paul said in Galatians 6, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." "Why should a person come to the cross? Why should a person embrace death with Christ? Why should a person be willing to go in identification down to the cross and into the tomb and up again? I'll tell you why! Because it's the only way that God can get Glory out of a human being!" (P. Reidhead)
Now, after having taken up my cross, I am to follow Him. This implies that I do not just stay on the cross, but I am to let the work of the cross have it's full effect. It isn't until we reach this place that we see the denying of self transform into love for Christ producing change in the way we think and act. And action must take place, from here we must follow. I cannot just stand there with the cross in my hands for the rest of my life. Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, climb on the cross, put to death this flesh, and move on from faith to faith. Taking up your cross is imperative! "He who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me." (Matt 10:38) And what is it to "follow" Christ? To be joined to, union, to be connected to. Knowing Him, and Him knowing me. Not just me abiding in Him, but Him abiding in me. The self denial becomes an act of love. It is because I love Him, that I will walk in self-discipline, that I will obey His commands.
The simplicity of it all, the simplicity of abiding in Christ and not fulfilling the desires of the flesh, is finding its way into every area of my heart. God has been showing me and giving me opportunities to deny myself and choose Him. And I am seeing the fruit of it in my life, in my thought process, and even in my prayers. My selfishness, and selfish desires are being replaced with His mercy, grace, and compassion. He is moving, and I am grateful.
