prismaticbleed | A Prayer to Live Like Jesus (Reply)

Jesus said "deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow me."

Peter did it wrong. He followed Christ to the courtyard, to the small fires in the frigid night, but he ironically didn't deny himself in his pursuant efforts-- he was still too focused on his own survival, and potential heroism, and stubborn ego. And so, unthinking, when the cross suddenly presented itself, Peter denied JESUS, not out of malice, but out of fear of losing his earthly life. He did not have the courage to say, "I do not know this world." And so there was only one other option.

If we do not deny our selves, we will inevitably deny Christ.

To acknowledge Him before the flaming threats of temptation is to choose to shoulder the condemnation & cross with Him, given for being one of His closest companions, His Presence recognizable in us even by our clothing & accent of speech.

But we must choose.

Either we bravely lay our lives on the line in allegiance to the Lord, staking our entire existence on Him... or we play it safe, protect our reputation, and abandon Him.

But, God, it is "not natural" for us mortal creatures to disregard our own interests, even for Your sake. Survival is instinctive, and its misoriented single-mindedness can be cold & cruel. THAT is the "self" we must deny-- the animal self, the "what can I get out of this" self, the "kill or be killed" self. Its top priority is to be safe & comfortable-- even by depriving others of the same-- and so to avoid all personal stress, loss & suffering. Its greatest fear is death, especially one marked by such inescapable fear & agonizing pain as Yours involved. The self pretends it is immortal & invincible just so it never has to think about its last breath. But You warn such deluded mortals: it will still come.

We are only capable of facing death when we realize that it is not the end.

...

God, I need You to work in my life so that I can learn to be a more sacrificial person.

Please, share Your strength with me in times of trouble and distress.

Show me how to carry my cross like Jesus carried His.

Amen.