Kurt Steinbrueck
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Deny What?

    Deny What?

    “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” – Luke 9:23-24

    If you could have anything, what would it be?

    The Christian life offers many blessings. We have new life, forgiveness of sins, the Spirit of God living in us and much more. However, some teachers would like us to believe that God wants to give us everything we want. If we just have enough faith and don’t sin too much, we’ll get anything we ask for.

    Is that really what God says?

    Yes, there are passages in the Bible where is says things like, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,” (John 14:13) or “He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) However, notice the “in my name” of John 14. Similarly, Psalm 37 also prefaces the above quote with, “Delight yourself in the Lord,” and follows it with, “Commit your way to the Lord.”

    Deny Yourself and Follow Jesus
    When we read those passages in their immediate context, we see that God will give us what we ask and desire when we set our heart on Him or, in other words, when we want what He wants. When we understand that also in light of Luke 9, which tells us to deny ourselves, we get a clear picture. These passages are assuring us that God can do what He says, not telling us God is a genie here to grant our every wish.

    Jesus wants us to want what He wants. That means we have to deny ourselves and our sinful, selfish desires.

    We’re terrible at that!

    Thankfully, He was obedient to the Father unto death so that we could be forgiven when we fail to deny ourselves.

    Denying ourselves is hard. However, when we start to understand that God truly loves us and wants what is best for us (even if we don’t understand), it gets a little easier.

    It reminds me of how I deal with my kids. They don’t always get what they want because sometimes what they want isn’t good for them.

    Heavenly Father,

    Thank You for loving me enough to give me what I truly need and not what I want. Help me to trust that You are good and loving. Help me to deny myself and follow You. Forgive me when I don’t.

    Amen.

     

    In Christ’s Service,

    Pastor Kurt