9. Deny yourself…
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up the 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.
Mark 8:34-35
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus is my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:7-8
A couple of years back I was on a night-time river cruise up our local Swan River. As we cruised down to Fremantle towards the ocean we were passed by a disco boat. Square in shape the boat consisted of a bar, a dance floor, very loud music, and a crowd of dancing, partying people having the night of their lives.
Sometimes we get on the disco boat. Someone else is steering and we are just going along for the ride. Travelling downstream, it’s fun, it’s easy and we can just kick of our shoes and dance. We might pass some poor guys who are in a rowboat going the other way. Upstream, labouring at the oars, huffing and puffing to get to their destination. Doesn’t sound so attractive, does it? Their dance takes greater effort, they must steer their own craft against the elements.
No, I am not trying to be the fun police, but we do need to consider whether our lives are being lived on the disco boat as we float along through each day, week, month, and year. Always taking the easy choices, going with the flow, allowing ourselves to be guided by those who are just in it for the fun.
Jesus makes it very clear that part of being his follower is to give up things, deny ourselves in order to make the wiser, better choices. The life God calls us to is not about the easy path:
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Matthew 7:13-14
Once again this is not about a set of harsh, legalistic rules that we must follow if we are followers of Jesus. It is about weighing things in the balance, choosing to live the life God has planned for us even though that may mean letting go of something that might be easier. This can be as simple as opening your home for hospitality when you would much rather not bother. Or taking a lesser paid job where you can better serve. Or it could mean selling up everything and becoming an overseas missionary.
Denying ourselves is about making choices of the heart. Asking the question, “what would Jesus do?”. It’s about where our loyalties lie – to God or the world? It is about choosing who our dance partner will be.
But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and striving towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:13-14
I feel God saying to us: Will you, won’t you, will you, will you, won’t you, will you join the dance? (apologies to Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland).
God’s dance is exciting, challenging, fun, comforting, strengthening, exercise. It is the dance of the heart and the soul where body, mind, and spirit come together. It is a dance that requires us to give up the good for the best.
Prayer: Lord, yes, I will join the dance no matter what it takes. No matter what I need to give up.
Amen
Action: Today, will you, won’t you join the dance? Consider what parts of your life are being lived on the party boat with the world at the helm. Spend time with God seeking his guidance.
Journal your thoughts:
