January 7 Let
him deny himself. Matthew 16:24
It
is a required by Jesus that every disciple should practise self-denial; we must
deny and crucify the workings of self-righteousness, and venture alone upon His
work and worth for salvation; and we must mortify the pride of reason and
intellect, and believe as His word reveals and walk as His word directs.
Our
nearest relatives, dearest friends, and choicest conforts, must be resigned, if
they are opposed to His glory and the furtherance of His cause.
A
Christian must lay every thing at the feet of Jesus and say, “Lord, do with it
as thou wilt.” We are not our own, nor
is anything we have our own; it is the Lord’s.
Our
appetites, pleasures, and pursuits, must all be brought into subjection to the
obedience of Christ. His glory is to be sought at all times, in all things,
under all circumstances; and when this is done, we are safe and happy.
The
servant must obey his master and the child must submit in all things to his
wise, judicious, and loving Father.
But
for whom am I called to deny himself?
For
Jesus, who lived and died to save me, who is now in heaven interceding for me,
and who is the great pattern of self-denial, having humbled Himself even unto
death.
Beloved self must be
denied,
And mind and will renew’d;
Passion suppress’d, and
patience tried.
And vain desires subdued.
James
Smith
Posts
1 comment:
CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON
By Pastor Thomas Smith on Jan 05, 2020 01:00 am
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
We all are going to serve someone or something. We might get a good idea of what we are serving by taking the time to look at our schedules, priorities, affections, and activities. Are we serving God, serving materialistic goals, serving sin, or serving self?
It is well known that our generation is bound by higher debt and financial bondage more than any other time in our nation’s history. Monetary problems are causing tremendous stress and wrecking families. People are working extra jobs, profaning the Lord’s Day for extra hours at work, and neglecting the financial support of God’s work because of poor stewardship.
More and more, people are slaves to “mammon.” Mammon is another word for riches or wealth. One reason so many are in such bondage to mammon is because they are serving self. Unwise decisions are made because of unrestrained appetites and undisciplined lives. Paul wrote to Timothy in II Timothy 3:2 that the last days would be characterized by men who were “lovers of their own selves, covetous.” Materialism has gripped our society, and God’s children are not exempt. However, Jesus tells us a great truth in our text: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” It is impossible to serve both God and riches. There is no question that we are to serve God with our lives. Jesus did not save us that we might continue to serve sin and self.
Paul said it this way in Romans 6:17-18, “ye were the servants of sin…ye became the servants of righteousness.” We were delivered from the slavery to sin when we were saved, in order that, we might serve God. We cannot serve both God and mammon. This does not mean that possessions are evil, only that we are to serve God and not things. The temptation is to serve both, but Jesus said it is not possible, “for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.” We can be servants of only one master. Many have sought to serve mammon while they are serving God, but inevitably they end up serving mammon. Riches do not, nor can they ever, save us or satisfy us. We have to choose who or what we will serve. Will it be God or mammon?
Post a Comment