Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Matthew 16:24 -- On Self-Denial and Following Christ

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
Matthew 16:24


Christ said this during a conversation with Peter and the other disciples, when Peter expressed a sense of denial at the information that Christ would have to die. From that context, it seems that denying ourselves is not disowning or demeaning ourselves, but rather denying the flesh in favor of the spirit, and denying our own preferences and desires in favor of God's will. That is what Christ taught us.

The idea of taking up our cross is also related to the atonement and the suffering that Christ went through. We need to bear the burdens of this world for a time, with God's help, as we learn and gain the experience this world offers us in learning to unite the different parts of ourselves, to take action according to our belief, and also learn love and compassion and to change our hearts as God teaches us, so that our wills beome united with his.

Today, let's work on denying ourselves in favor of God, caring for the people around us rather than induging in selfishness, and let's bear the burdens that God gives us, knowing that even our trials are for a reason. Let's learn, and grow, and follow Christ.

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