He also use this verse in Matthew 16:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
He explained that to "deny oneself", does not mean an aesthetic lifestyle like Gandhi lived, but to GIVE UP OUR SINS. After all, it is our sins that are keeping us from following Jesus. People often would rather crawl on their knees on glass rather than give up their sin, and crawling on glass is unprofitable (except for the hospital emergency room staff!). If your will isn't being controlled by the Holy Spirit, than it is being controlled by your own fleshly desires. Make sense?
Hi Ciao, I have been giving this same topic an awful lot of thought and consideration of late. Now certainly I am no scholar, but I think God has helped me understand the truth behind the verse you used in Mathew.
Mat 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Christ said that one must deny themselves in order to become true followers of him. Yet, I do not believe that Christ was talking solely about money, late nights, trendy clothes, fast cars, loud music, tobacco, etc; because he did not say to give up any of these. He said, give up or deny onself.
What is it that man holds closest to himself? I think it is his understanding, his knowledge and his ability to trust in himself to make the correct decisions. Man does not need God, God gave man a brain and the ability to think and reason, right? Oh, yes He did, but man is told to gve it up and never trust it.
Pro 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; Actually, we are told that we must do two
important things in the verse:
1. Trust in God with all of ones heart
2. Never trust or lean on ones understanding
It is my understanding that Christ was metaphorically speaking of letting go of everything that one has learned, discerned and understands and instead, turn ones trust 100% on God. Trusting in Him in everything. I believe the wonderful words of David so encapsulates this in his 23rd Psalm.
Psa 23:1
A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Psa 23:2
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, Psa 23:3
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psa 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psa 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows. Psa 23:6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Well these are my thoughts
Thanks so much for sharing yours.
Love in Christ the Lamb,
Darren