Lk. 9:23 π Lk. 14:26 π Jn. 10:17
“If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself.” ( Lk. 9:23; top ) Meaning: let a born-again, baptized-with-the-Holy-Spirit Christian give up his right to himself. This is so alien to most contemporary Christians, because the apostasy of the present hour has clouded and negated any knowledge, or living examples, of this type of dedication to God. Those few who have chosen this path are considered unusual even to the erudite, theologically-sound, evangelical Christians. The term “crucified with Christ” is used glibly in many respectable Christian circles as something we obtain through an osmosis experience via the new the birth. Not having any rights to ourselves is like telling the Father to help Himself to our lives whenever He desires. We were not redeemed for service for God but for God Himself. This means the breaking of our independence of self-will to a point of death so we can be absolutely loyal to Jesus, emancipating ourselves from our desire to serve God to one of being one with Jesus and the Father. Anything less is a superb failure. “Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down My life…” ( Jn. 10:17 ) Lk. 14:26 says, “If any man come to Me and hate not his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot by My disciple.” (top)
The walk of total obedience as a true disciple to Jesus goes through Gethsemane and a trip through the wilderness. Then you sense you are totally alone, until all you can hear is that still, small voice that says, “follow Me.”
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