By Sacha Harris
Luke 9:23-24
And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself (disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself) and take up his cross daily and follow Me (cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and if need be in dying also).
I almost fell this week. It would have been a fall that would have cost me not only the investment God had made in me, but also the people, places, assignments and blessings He had in store for me. I had made a decision to close a door in a relationship God had said NO to repeatedly. If I said that I did not know God wanted me to run away from that temptation, it would be a lie. Yet this past weekend I found myself living out what Paul said in Romans 8:15-17 “For I do not understand my own actions (I am baffled, bewildered). I do not practice or accomplish what I wish, but I do the very thing that I loathe (which my moral instinct condemns)… However it is no longer I who do the deed, but this sin (principle) which is at home in me and has possession of me.” God in His mercy, grace and kindness blocked that effort and would not let me re-enter the door He said to close, and although my Spirit praised Him for His faithfulness in keeping me, loving me and looking after me so tenderly, my flesh cried out in anguish and frustration… WHY??!! Why must following Jesus seem so hard at times! Why must my desires and free will to do whatever feels right be crucified, while I really felt as if I were burning up and dying!
In that moment God reminded me of the scripture in Luke 9:23 about the reality of being a disciple of Christ. Jesus said that we are His disciples indeed when we abide in His word and live it out as He commands and instructs (John 8:31), otherwise we deceive ourselves into living a form of godliness, which is a show and empty shell of a life. The disciples were followers of Christ. They were not perfect men and Jesus had to rebuke them several times, but they worked closely with Jesus, received power and authority from Him to do miracles and most of all were able to see and walk with Jesus in an intimate way that most men did not. Yet Jesus would say that to be His disciple, His follower, we must deny, disown, forget and lose sight of ourselves.
Paul reiterates this in Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, breathren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies (presenting ALL your members and faculties) as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship”. To be a sacrifice is one thing. It means to be offered up for death. But how can we be offered unto death and still be living??! My understanding of this is that we will feel the pain of the fire sometimes, as God burns the things in us that need to be put to death, that it would be “Christ in us the hope of glory”(Colossians 1:27). This is done that we may know Him and the hope He has called us to; also that others would see Christ, hear Christ and see the love of Christ through vessels that are fully surrendered to Him. He wants not a part of us, but EVERY part consecrated to Him: our minds, hands, feet, eyes, nose, mouth, will… you get the picture? J
Also, we do not contend only with our sin nature or our flesh but we also contend with the devil who is the enemy of our souls (1Peter 5:8). He knows our weakness and is CONTINUOUSLY searching for opportune times when we are vulnerable to prey. He tempted Jesus when He was physically weak after fasting! The thing is that the enemy never lures and offers temptation without a cost. The bible says that he comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). We must constantly remember that the price of anything the enemy offers, which may appeal to our senses… is destruction, desolation and death, where we are left in a state of being robbed of purpose, identity and assignment. God warns us to resist him, standing steadfastly faith which comes from staying in His word. (1Peter 5:9-11).
Finally, I will say that through it all God has showed me a greater dimension of His grace and this is how I choose to close this blog. The bible says that where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and super abounded (Romans 5:20). Anything not done in faith is sin (Romans 14:23). We cannot hope to live for Jesus on our own. Jesus said separated/apart from Him we can do nothing! (John 15:5) Paul said that he “… all the more gladly glory (rejoice) in his weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ may rest and dwell upon him.” Let us therefore be encouraged that it is Christ the hope of glory, who works in us to do His will, it is not by our own merit. Let us stand knowing that His grace and power is sufficient (strong enough to ward off and defend anything that comes our way and is able to satisfy us) (2Corin 12:9). As we surrender EVERY part of ourselves and our lives to Him, daily and constantly, He will show His strength is made perfect in our areas of weakness as we stand and having done all, still stand on His word and His promises for us. HE IS GOOD, ALWAYS.