A woman once brought her little boy to Robert E. Lee. She asked the West Point graduate and Civil War general to bless her son. He gave an interesting answer:
“Teach him that he must deny himself.”
Did anyone teach you to deny yourself? When did you last tell yourself No? When was the last time you denied yourself?
Do you agree with Lee? Is self-denial important? It is an essential part of leadership, because self-denial builds the character and integrity that inspires others to follow you. But self-denial is also critical to those who are not in obvious leadership roles. In other words, it is not only generals who must deny themselves, but privates. Centurions should deny themselves, but so should the one hundred men in their charge.
Most Americans do not deny themselves. We indulge. We eat too much, sleep too late, drive too fast, work too little, watch too much TV or sports, scroll too much, read too little, and serve others almost never.
Most people never master self-denial, and as a result, most people never achieve big goals or accomplish great things. Most people take the path of least resistance, choose the most comfortable life possible, and life rewards them with mediocrity.
But what did Jesus say?
“If anyone wants to be My disciple, he must DENY HIMSELF, take up his cross, and follow Me” Mark 8:34.
What does self-denial look like for a Christ-follower? What do you think Jesus is really talking about, in practical terms? First, notice Jesus connected self-denial with the cross: deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. That’s extreme: this is a call to the death of all our self-centeredness, the death of our selfishness, the death of putting our own desires first.
Jesus calls us to turn our backs on our own desires and follow Him. Place your wishes, your future, your plans on the altar. Not only your big plan for your life, but your small plan for today. Give Jesus your small plans and big plans. Because every little decision leads to the next, each day’s choices create your life. Deny yourself a few minutes more sleep and spend time reading the Bible. Deny yourself food and other habits that are bad for your health. Deny yourself that grudge and choose to forgive. Deny yourself the “self-care” you were hoping for and handle your job, your children, your bills, your responsibilities. Deny yourself.
“When Jesus Christ calls a man, He bids him: Come and die.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
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