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Matthew 16:24-28
After Jesus instructs His disciples to be mindful of the things of God, and not the things of man (Matthew 16:23), He expresses the will of God to them. The Bible teaches us in Matthew 16:24-26 (NKJV), “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus then explains why in Matthew 16:27 as He declares, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
This is a promise of life in Christ Jesus for those who are mindful of the things of God.
To deny self is to deny the ways of the sinful nature in our lives, as to put them behind us and begin living in the will of God for our lives. Whoever clings to his or her sinful nature and seeks to please it, will lose their eternal life, but whoever lets go (loses) his or her sinful nature and seeks God’s will for their life will find a new life in Christ Jesus that leads to eternal life. When Jesus returns in the glory of the Father, each person will be rewarded for their works which can only be pleasing to God if you are following His will for your life; your works must be done in Christ Jesus and not of the sinful nature that strives to no reward.
Dear LORD,
Thank You for sending Your One and only Son Jesus to save us from the sinful nature so that we may be set free from it by putting our faith in Him and letting go of the old life and clinging to life in Him – eternal life in Christ Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.