NO! – Lent Day 39

Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must say no to themselves. They must pick up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 (NIRV)

May I have a cookie? I’m hungry. Please?

As children, we felt as though all adults were programmed to say “No” to our requests. It was inevitable! We asked a question and the answer was automatically, “No.” 

 As adults, we tend to fall into the trap of expecting our Heavenly Father to say “no” to our requests.

Consider our verse, if we want to be a disciple of Jesus…I mean…a real disciple, an honest disciple who is interested in growing and knowing Jesus on a deeply personal level, then…

Are you ready?

We must say “NO!” Did you hear that? We must say “no” to ourselves. Saying “no” is more than self-denial. It is more than not eating that second piece of cake or giving up a chocolate treat. Self-denial, or saying “no” to one’s self, is more like what Jesus did. 

Jesus was God, yet He emptied Himself of the claim to divinity and became a man.

…Who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself… Philippians 2:6-7

Jesus denied Himself, He emptied Himself. He gave up His “claim to fame” if you will. He literally became nothing, and died. This is saying “No”.

Are you ready to say “NO”? Are you ready to empty yourself? Are you ready to give up your “claim to fame” in order to follow Jesus? 

What is most important to you? What are you holding tightly in your arms? Are you ready to give it to Jesus?

Say Yes to Jesus…and to yourself, say…..No!