Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Avoiding Distractions

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, "Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." Mark 8:34-35

What does Jesus mean when he says he wants those who follow him to "deny themselves?" I want to focus on these two words. This is very important, Beloved. Jesus calls us to follow him. But so often we follow the things that the world puts in front of us and we soon become controlled by them. Some of the things that can control us are TV shows, music, internet surfing, pornography, gossiping and our ownselfish desires. We are led to believe that we can keep these desires in check and do what we please and still call ourselves followers of Christ. But we cannot. We cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).

We cannot act like the world by cursing and using the Lord's name in vain, drinking, partying, and filling our minds with all sorts of perversion and at the same time call ourselves Christians. So if someone were to meet you today, do you think they would be able to tell that there was something different about you? Would they be able to tell that you serve Jesus?

Telling something different about us is the result of allowing Christ to change us by denying ourselves and taking up our cross. This is a peculiar thing. In 1 Peter 2:9, we are described as a peculiar people. That means we are to be set apart and people should be able to tell we are Christians. So if others are not able to identify us as Christ's followers then perhaps it may be time to check our hearts (Psalm 139).

The only ways we can truly know the Lord is by denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow Christ. This requires us to study God's word and pray every day. We must put away all the things that sway our focus from Jesus. For if we try to hold on to those things of the world that we know in our hearts do not please the Lord, we will miss what great things God has in store and ultimately "lose our life" (v. 35). But if we give up all of our worldly desires and take up our cross and follow Jesus, being all he desires us to be, we will find life in the end! In doing this, God is able to use us for great things. It is then that we are truly followers of Christ.

Sharon Coffey

Prayer: Dear Father, forgive me for my selfishness. Teach me to deny myself daily and take up my cross and follow you. Show me the things in my life that are keeping me from knowing you more and give me the strength to let go of them. Put within me a deep desire for you and your word so that I can focus on you without distraction (1 Cor. 7:35b). Help me to focus on you, God, by drawing me closer to you!