You first!

484 you firstDo you love self-denial? Do you feel comfortable when you have to live in a victim role? Life is much nicer if you can really enjoy it. On television, I often look at interesting stories about people who sacrifice or make themselves available to others. From the safety and comfort of my own living room, this can be easily observed and experienced.

What does Jesus have to say about that?

Jesus called all the people and his disciples to him and said: "If anyone wants to be my disciple, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8,34 New Geneva translation).

Jesus begins to explain to his disciples that he will suffer much, be rejected and put to death. Peter gets upset about what Jesus is saying and Jesus rebukes him for it, saying that Peter does not consider the things of God, but the things of men. In this context, Christ declares that self-denial is a "thing of God" and a Christian virtue (Mark 8,31-33).

What does Jesus say? Should Christians not enjoy themselves? No, that's not the idea. What does it mean to deny oneself? Life is not just about you and what you want, but about putting others' interests before their own. Your children first, your husband first, your wife first, your parents first, your neighbor first, your enemy first, and so on.

Taking up the cross and denying yourself is reflected in the greatest commandment of love in 1. Corinthians 13. What could it be? The person who denies himself is patient and kind; she or he is never jealous or boastful, never puffed up with pride. This person is not rude or insistent on their own rights or ways, because Christ's followers are not selfish. He or she is not upset or paying attention to injustices suffered. When you deny yourself, you do not rejoice in injustice, but rather when law and truth prevail. He or she, whose life story includes self-denial, is ready to go through anything, come what may, ready to believe the best of every person, hope under all circumstances, and endure anything. The love of Jesus in such a person never fails.

by James Henderson


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