Devotional | Deny Yourself: The First Step of Real Christianity

The Bible is really specific, and it tells us that there are some crucial things that are necessary for you to live the proper Christian life. The first one is: deny yourself. What is “self”? Self is pretty big. Before coming to know Christ, self is everything. But how can you deny “self” unless you know what selflessness is? 

When I look at the life of Jesus, I see selflessness. I see a man who was never ruled by the fear of man. I see one who was loved by sinners. I mean, we’re talking about people following Him for days and forgetting to eat. That’s a radical, radical chase.

This world of Christianity is a completely opposite, inside-out, upside-down world where you give to gain, where you humble yourself for God to raise you up, and where you die to live. Before Christ, we were taught to “look out for number one.” But the Kingdom of God says look out for Him, and He looks out for you. It’s completely opposite to the ways of the world. And the enemy wants to stop you from ever believing that the Bible teaches that. Sometimes we read for selfish purposes, but God wants us to read differently.

I’ve been growing in this place of intimacy and growing in this love relationship with God. I am overwhelmed with this compassion for people, and I am not trying to impress you. I am trying to inspire you, letting the truth of intimacy cut the heart. 

Jesus, out of intimacy, destroyed hell. He was up earlier than everybody. He was up later than everybody. And He spent that time alone with God. He didn’t come to live. He came to die so that you and I might live. But we need to live in the fullness of what He paid a price for—and that is not found in a shallow Christianity, and not in just “being a good person.” 

You’re not supposed to just be a good person. You are not called to be tame. You’re supposed to be good and dangerous. You’re supposed to be the lethal weapon of Heaven. You’re supposed to destroy the works of the devil every step of the way. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is coming back. And when the Lion comes back, He’s coming for a return on His investment. The Church has become domesticated but we don’t serve a domesticated God.

This gospel is amazing. It’s more than just some Easter or Christmas story. It’s about a life change. The love of Jesus has ravished my heart. And I want to get the whole Body of Christ to be ravished by Him. He doesn’t condemn you. He doesn’t bring shame upon you. He brings the clarity of His call…

He’s wanting you to wake up every sleeping Christian around you. And they will not like you sounding the alarm. They want you to chill out and fit in. You’re not supposed to fit in. You’re supposed to be extreme. You’re supposed to burn with holy fire!

There’s nothing tame about Jesus. There’s nothing passive about Jesus. Intimacy fuels boldness. I’m not bold because I stirred up boldness. I’m bold because I know I’m loved. I’m bold because He is for me, and greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. Once we fall in love with God and grow in our intimacy with Him, we will trade the worldly wisdom of self-seeking and envy for the wisdom of God, which brings purity and abundant life.

Challenge for Today:
Do one specific action that pushes against “self”—forgive someone, serve someone secretly, or choose humility where pride usually rules. Offer it to Jesus as an act of worship.

Love you guys,

Todd White