Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” —Matthew 16:24 NIV

Jesus did not make it sound all fun and easy to follow Him, did He? No. He told His followers right from the start that it would involve sacrifice and suffering. Yet, following Him also brings love, joy, peace … and so much more! Some of that love, joy, and peace are actually developed through the sacrifice and suffering.

Not all sacrifices are huge, and not all suffering is momentous. A whole lot of my life as a wife and mother and friend is made up of—not the grand gestures, but what I think of as “little deaths” to self. For example, just the other morning, I was deep into my quiet time (a worthy and holy activity, yes?). Ray had finished his devotions early, was putting on his coat, and preparing to go out the door to his job as a teacher at a local Christian school. Now, when Ray leaves each morning, I make him a coffee thermos “to go” and hand him a lunch with a little hand-written love note and a kiss. It’s our routine. However, this morning, Ray had finished early, and I wasn’t yet done with my quiet time. I wanted him to go away while I finished up. He was annoying me, standing there hoping for his kiss and coffee. Humm … would I die a “little death” and lay aside my Bible to send him on his way with love, or not? I kissed him, and he got his coffee, but I marveled at how hard it was—dying to self even in something as minor as that.

This morning, as I write this, Ray and I were up and out early to shovel and snow-blow the driveway. I noticed that Ray had had to move my belongings (again—after repeatedly asking me to keep them out of the path exiting the garage). He did not scold or point it out to me. He quietly moved my stuff and went to work. He died to self and “let it go” without a word.

Jesus asks us to live in a way that is counterintuitive to our sinful natures. We are naturally selfish and understand our own perspective best. We like our comforts and our ways of doing things. He asks us to consider others as well, to yield to them instead of demanding our own way. Paul reminds us: what Jesus asks of us … He did for us.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above
yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!
—Philippians 2:3-8 NIV

Heavenly Father, I am ashamed of how hard it is for me to yield my way to others, especially to my dear Ray, the one I’ve pledged my love and heart to. Help me willingly die those little deaths. And, if You ever ask of me a grander dying, may these small deaths prepare my heart. Thank You, Lord, for showing by example that yielding to others leads to great fruit in Your Kingdom for all involved. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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