Why should you stop thinking about yourself and what you want? Because that is what Jesus meant when He said, “Let him deny himself.” Enjoy this Bible snack for more details.

Created: Sunday, July 16, 2023

Warning: Stop Thinking About Yourself And What You Want

True disciples prepare to give up all and suffer daily! Stop thinking about yourself.

STM Bible Snack

Luke 9:23 [read 23-26 (23); compare Matthew 16:24-27 (24) and Mark 8:34-38 (34)]: Jesus continued to say to all of them, “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you every day for following me. (ERV); KJV: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

3 warnings about becoming disciples

The only term used to describe Christ’s followers in the Gospels is “disciple.” Later they were called Christians, i.e., a follower of Christ [Acts 11:19-26 (26)]:

1. Love Jesus more than…

Jesus must be first in your life. We must love Him above ourselves, all people, desires, and things. If not…
Luke 14:26 [read Luke 14:25-33 (26)]: Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. (GNT); KJV: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.; Hate is not in the literal sense, as it would go against the biblical concept of love. To hate is to love less than you love Jesus.

Christ brings division

Matthew 10:37 [read Matthew 10:34-39 (37)]: If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples. (CEV); KJV: He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

2. Carry your cross

The phrase carrying the cross implies a willingness to put up with abuse, hardships, misery, and pain. Expected by those who choose to follow Christ. If not…
Luke 14:27]: Whoever doesn’t carry his cross (i.e., his responsibilities with all their difficulties) and follow me can’t be my disciple. (ISV); KJV: And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.; NOTE: According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus did not physically carry His cross. The soldiers forced Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry Jesus’ cross and walk behind him [Matthew 27:32-44 (32); Mark 15:21-32 (21); Luke 23:26-43 (26)]. However, John said He did in John 19:16-17

3. Give up everything you own

Jesus only asks that we do what He did. He set examples for us to follow. So we must stop thinking about ourselves and what we desire; be willing to give up all!
Philippians 2:6-7 [read Philippians 2:5-11 (6-7)]: Christ was truly God. But he did not try to remain equal with God. 7 Instead, he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us. (CEV); KJV: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Luke 14:33: So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own. (NLT); KJV: So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Examples: James, John, Peter, Matthew, and Paul left everything

Luke 5:11 [read Luke 5:1-11 (11); compare Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20]: RKJNT: And when they (James, John, and Simon {Peter}) had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him (Jesus).
Luke 5:28 [read Luke 5:27-32 (28); compare Matthew 9:9-13; Mark 2:13-17]: KJV: And he (Levi {Matthew}) left all, rose up, and followed him.
Philippians 3:8 [read Philippians 3:1-11 (8)]: NKJV: Yet indeed I (Paul) also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

Stop thinking about yourself; deny yourself

Without exception; all who live holy “will suffer persecution.”
2 Timothy 3:12 [read 2 Timothy 3:10-15 (12)]: In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand], (NIV); KJV: Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

The Defender’s Study Bible – This normal Christian experience of being persecuted in some way or other for our Christian testimony has actually been granted (literally “graced”) to us as a privilege! “We suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:17). “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12).
Philippians 1:29 [read Philippians 1:27-30 (29)]: God gave you the honor not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for him, both of which bring glory to Christ. (NCV); KJV: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Jesus told the rich man in (Mark 10:21) “sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor… Then come and follow me.” So I urge you to stop thinking about yourself and what you want so you can be a true disciple of Christ. I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible snack. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺