Dying to Self – The Path to True Following

By Eldon Kibbey

 

The Choice: “Why Me?” or “Why Not Me?”

Throughout life, we face difficulties we don’t understand. The natural, human response is, “Why me?”—a question rooted in a desire for personal control and comfort. But a more reflective, God-centered response is, “Why not me?”

Our problem is a focus on self. We want to be in control, and when things happen that are beyond our control, we get angry. God knows what our needs are, and He often causes or allows things to happen in our lives to get our attention. He desires an intimate relationship with us and wants us to trust Him so He can direct our paths. But He has to break through our focus on self, which only seeks things that make us feel good.

The Mandate: Deny, Take Up, and Follow

The world tells us, “Believe in yourself, Trust your instincts, Follow your heart.” But Jesus gives a radically different mandate for life: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

To follow Jesus, we must:

• Deny Ourselves: This means setting aside our own desires, plans, and purposes.

• Take Up Our Cross: Jesus was beaten and killed on His cross. Our cross is about the same kind of afflictions in our own lives, and the acceptance of His death on the cross for our sins. We must die to self to realize the true extent of what Christ has done for us.

• Follow Jesus: This means following Him in His desires, His plan, and His purpose.

The Foundation of Trust

Dying to self is the only way to realize the power of God in your life. When difficulties arise, instead of trying to control the outcome on our own, we are called to:

1. Thank Him: Thank God for the salvation He has given us through the death of His Son, Jesus.

2. Seek His Direction: Seek His direction instead of relying on self-effort.

Remember the truth: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me.” Look back at difficulties you have experienced and how God faithfully led you through them. He is the only answer to the things we are going through today.

As you celebrate Thanksgiving and the coming holidays, thank God for His guiding hand, for the death of His Son on your behalf, and for the opportunity to serve Him in the lives of those around you by loving Him and loving others. Look to Him instead of self!