If you want to be my disciple

Jesus challenges all potential disciples with a single, life-changing statement. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Jesus’ foundational teaching is of such importance that each synoptic writer, Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded the statement.

Since the Garden of Eden, men have always been compelled to be Number One! And, if we were honest, we would all admit that we graduated summa cum laude from the “School of Me First!” We secretly believe we ought to be the alumnus of the year – annually. Outgrowing the stubborn insistence that we know best is a world-class challenge. Denying ourselves in deference to Jesus is daunting.

This week I am responsible for bringing a message immediately before church members make their annual missionary faith promises. My text will be 2 Corinthians 8 which includes these soul-searching words, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. The text explains that before the offerings were sent from one church to another, the giving church gave themselves first to the Lord. Is it safe to say that if everyone gave themselves first to the Lord, Jesus would have access to all we are, every ability, every possession.

The language is now quaint and dated, but the message is as significant as ever. The song’s lyrics were an instrument of the Holy Spirit which formed me as I matured in understanding and began learning how to surrender to Jesus and deny myself.

You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed;
But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.

Refrain:
Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?
Your heart does the Spirit control?
You can only be blest,
And have peace and sweet rest,
As you yield Him your body and soul.

Oh, we never can know
What the Lord will bestow
Of the blessings for which we have prayed,
Till our body and soul
He doth fully control,
And our all on the altar is laid.

I’m still learning, ever so slowly. God is patient. I need to master the discipline of self-denial, don’t you?