Deny Ourselves Daily

Jesus tells us we are to deny ourselves daily. Now He is not saying to do without anything, and to walk around pitiful and poor. No, He is talking about getting out of our own flesh sometimes when things are not as we would like them to be. For example: let's say everyday you go to school, or to work, or wherever, and there is always this one person who just rubs you the wrong way. Do you react to their snide remarks or do you continue to walk in love toward that person. I mean maybe there is something that is bothering them that makes them act out toward others in a negative way. Or say, someone steals your parking space just as you are getting ready to pull in, after waiting for that elderly lady to back out, straighten up, back up some more, straighten up some more, back up one more time, you get the picture, and then WHAM, some young chic pulls right in front of you into your space, (sort of like on the movie "Fried Green Tomatos) HA! Do you react with the broken finger signal or screaming out the window, or do you just smile and drive on to the next spot? I mean maybe, they are running very late for work, and she is a single mom and can't afford to be late again. Who knows? The question is, "How do you react?"

We try so hard to be good Christian examples to our co-workers, the young people we come into contact with, the other people shopping at the store you are in. We just want to do good, and hear those words from our heavenly Father, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

I don't know about you, but sometimes, I miss out on those words, and get some more loving words instead. Like, Now, Neta, Is that what I have taught you in My Word? Where did you learn such language, I know those words are not in My Word.

We have to lose our life, and live for Him to be able to finish this race with those words we so desperately long to hear. We won't be finished with our race until we finish completely. So every day, as His word says, take up your cross daily and follow me, is what we need to be doing.

Luke 9 v 23-25....Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?"........

You see this world will pass away and be no more, but our lives with the LORD JESUS is forever. We must learn to live by His words, and not by how our flesh wants to react to differences.

RTB....1Sam 4-6
Sat. 1 Sam 7-9
Sun. 1 Sam 10-12