I was looking in Mark 7 and 8 today where Jesus rebukes Peter. It says that Jesus said to Peter, "Get Behind me, Satan, you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but on man's." Mark 8:33. I think about how many times I also do this. When I don't consider how God views a situation. When all I want is to be comfortable and happy and have my needs met. To this, Jesus answers in this same chapter that a person should deny self, take up his cross and follow me.
So when I look back at times when I was a teenager and I denied self then I need to remember that I was doing exactly what the Lord asked of me. I was submitting myself to Him and God will honor it. That God's commands are there in order to protect me and for my good. Even though, when i didn't follow the crowd it led to some times that were lonely and isolated.
I also need to remember that follow the path of the cross is not the popular path. People won't understand or appreciate why you don't do what others do. People will ridicule you for doing things God's way. But, standing up and saying that you are going to do things differently is a testimony to them about your integrity. It would be so much easier to follow the crowd and to do what everyone else is doing. It is much harder voluntarily laying down your life and being a servant for others. Sometimes pride wells up inside and I think to myself that I deserve better than I am getting. I deserve to go out and take what is mine and do my own thing. The truth is, I already have the best thing, which is Christ.
So when I look back at times when I was a teenager and I denied self then I need to remember that I was doing exactly what the Lord asked of me. I was submitting myself to Him and God will honor it. That God's commands are there in order to protect me and for my good. Even though, when i didn't follow the crowd it led to some times that were lonely and isolated.
I also need to remember that follow the path of the cross is not the popular path. People won't understand or appreciate why you don't do what others do. People will ridicule you for doing things God's way. But, standing up and saying that you are going to do things differently is a testimony to them about your integrity. It would be so much easier to follow the crowd and to do what everyone else is doing. It is much harder voluntarily laying down your life and being a servant for others. Sometimes pride wells up inside and I think to myself that I deserve better than I am getting. I deserve to go out and take what is mine and do my own thing. The truth is, I already have the best thing, which is Christ.
