“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34)

In Mark 8:34 Jesus addressed both the crowd and his disciples with these words: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Denying self is something much bigger than just dealing with the daily irritations of everyday life. It is walking the way of the cross. For some, it means following Jesus in the middle of betrayal, suffering, and persecution. For others, it means loving the unlovable through sacrificial service. For everyone, it includes embracing weakness rather than power. Self-denial also should not be confused with denying something. Rather it is a complete re-orientation where God, not self, is at the center of one’s life. Jesus came to do his Father’s will, denying his heavenly rights and earthly success. While everyone has his or her unique cross to bear and path to follow, we all have one thing in common: a commitment to align with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 

KEY QUESTIONS: What has self-denial meant to me in the past? How might that change for me in the future? How can I embrace weakness over power? In what areas of life do I need to completely re-orientate myself around the Father’s will?