Shaking Loose of Personal Independence

Matthew 16:24

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

A true disciple of Jesus is one that walks in the same anointed way that Jesus walked.  A true disciple follows His Master's example on a daily basis.  A true disciple is energetic and passionate about every task assigned by the Master.  A true disciple of Jesus Christ is one that denies self and takes up the Cross that Jesus has prepared for him or her.

During our toddler ages, we are already beginning to express our own individuality and independence.  It is during this time that most of us realize for the first time that we are our own person and can make choices for ourselves.  Unfortunately, one of our favorite words during these early ages is "no."  Our rebellious nature wants to reject all the good counsel of our parents in order to fully express our own independence.  This independent behavior has a tendency to carry over into our relationship with Almighty God.  We set a pattern early for ourselves which establishes the importance of our desires over loving authority.  We establish lifestyles in which our decisions are made based on the needs of our flesh and not on the desires of Almighty God for our lives.

Let us shake loose from the independence that we have strived so hard to attain throughout our lives. We can miss much that God has in store of us if we do not learn to deny ourselves and surrender completely to the will of Our Savior.  Our Savior has gone before us and shown us the way.  Let us follow Him daily.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the grace that You provide so that we are able to take up the Cross of Your Son and follow Him.  We thank You for Your patience with us as we learn to deny our sinful natures, our ungodliness and our worldly lusts.  We pray, Lord, for the strength to exercise the humility, zeal, patience and self-denial that the Cross demands.  May we carry out every duty for Your glory and for the gain of Your kingdom.  We ask all these things in the name of the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, Jesus Christ.