The Father's Menu
Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Deny Thyself
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Mark 8:34
Main Text: Main Text: Luke 9:23
To follow Christ is a call to deep self-denial. The Greek term aparneomai, used in this context for "deny," means to completely forget oneself and set aside personal interests. In the New Testament, to deny often signifies the deliberate disassociation from a relationship. It’s a strong word that could also be translated as "disown" or "renounce."
True discipleship requires a willingness to let go of earthly pleasures and desires, embracing sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. This might mean prioritizing God’s work over personal financial gain, or sacrificing other comforts that would otherwise pull you away from God’s purpose. The blessings of the gospel come through a heart committed to God’s calling above personal ambitions.
Jesus made it clear: if we want to follow Him, we must deny ourselves. This isn’t just a metaphorical call; it may require concrete sacrifices—finances, comforts, relationships, even one’s homeland—whenever these hinder us from wholeheartedly pursuing His mission. Such denial is a commitment to putting God’s will above everything else in our lives.
Confession:
Dear Lord, I surrender my own desires and willingly deny myself for the sake of Your kingdom. Guide me to release anything that stands in the way of Your calling, and help me stay committed to Your work.
Further Reading:
Matthew 16:25-26 – "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
Mark 8:34-38 – "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Read through the bible in 1 year: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26 Hebrews 11:17-31 Psalm 111:1-10 Proverbs 27:15-16
Read through the bible in 2 years: Eccl 3 & Ps 131
