December 20

“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.”—LUKY. ix. 23.

Is it not one of the Master’s hard sayings?

There is my proud self—it has to be denied at the very outset. I have my own thoughts of how my salvation may be won, and my own objections to His way of redeeming me. He takes no account of what I can do. He ranks me with the chief of sinners. How it humbles my conceit!

There is my indulgent self—it has to be denied every day that I walk with Him. I crave “rest and ease and joys.” And He commands me to undertake some trying duty, or to make some painful sacrifice, or to bear and forbear with men who provoke and wound. It is a perpetual crucifixion.

There is my planning and scheming self—it has to be denied a hundred times over. In my Christian work I have my cherished ideas, my favourite methods, my arrangements which, I think, are sure to achieve success. And Christ will have none of them. He leads me in paths at which my heart rebels.

And there is my impatient self—it has to be denied I cannot tell how often. If I had my will, I would inaugurate the kingdom of God to-morrow. I would usher in everywhere the reign of righteousness and peace. But Jesus says, “Tarry My leisure. It is I, My child, who have to decide when the hour is ripe.” But ah, Lord, how hard it is to wait!

It is no child’s play, this daily self-denial. Morning by morning I must brace myself to it, by a new act of faith, by earnest prayer, by the fresh reception of the Spirit of God.