Monday Devotion: Week 3: Denying Ourselves
Matthew 16:24 NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
1 Peter 2:11 NIV
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.
Daniel 1:8 NIV
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
Reflective questions:
- How can you practice denying yourself in your daily life where you put the needs of others first above your own needs?
- Jesus is an example of denying Himself and putting our salvation above His own glory and silence like a little lamb.
How can we learn, to humble ourselves and wait for our Father to avenge on our behalf, from studying Jesus’ example?
- How can we be more loving to others so we may remain in God’s love? (1 John 4:20)
1 John 4:20 NIV
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
- Jesus deny Himself in front of the cross. But Jesus never lowly thinks of His own Identity.
What can you learn from Jesus’ example? How do you see yourself in Identity of Christ?
Dear heavenly father
Thank you for giving us our identity in Christ. That if we truly love you, we will abide in your commands. And if we do not abide in You. You have no fellowship with us.
1 John 4:20 NIV
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.
John 14:24 NIV
Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
John 15:4 NIV
Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
Thank you for the cross. You have set an example for us to follow. To deny ourselves and pick up the cross. To put others interested above ours.
Matthew 16:24 NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
And it is in Your Promises that we can rejoice daily. You promise that if we first seek You, You will provide everything we need. And that we fret not, because You will avenge on our behalf.
Praise the Lord!
Matthew 6:33 NIV
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Romans 12:19 NIV
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
Not only God, You have set an example for us, You gave us hope that we can rely on.
Romans 15:13 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God, help us to understand our true identity in Christ. Help us be humble but never forget that we are made in Your Image. That nothing can separate us from Your Great Love.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Praise the Lord for His Words.
Pray all in Christ Name. Amen.