Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
“Self-denial is never just a series of isolated acts of mortification or asceticism. It is not suicide, for there is an element of self-will even in that. To deny oneself is to be aware only of Christ and no more of self, to see only Him who goes before and no more the road which is too hard for us. Once more, all thats self-denial can say is: “He leads the way, keep close to Him.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) in Cost of Discipleship (New York: SCM, 1959) 88. I came across part of this quote in reading God is on the Cross: Reflections on Lent and Easter by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which led me back to his classic work, Cost of Discipleship. A must-read for everyone!
Week two of Lent starts today. “Self-denial” comes into view.
Bonhoeffer calls us to focus on Christ versus self. In similar terms the Apostle Paul urges us to live according to the Spirit rather than the flesh (cf. Colossians 3:5-7; Romans 8:13). Why does it matter? All acts in the flesh are like filthy rags (cf. Isaiah 64:6), but a fruit of the Spirit is generosity (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). Apart from the Spirit, there is no generosity!
There is an “a-ha” moment that some experience in Lent. Not everyone gets it. I missed it for years. Here is its: Disciplines linked to self-denial are not seeking to rob us of anything; they free us to take hold of something better. I don’t know what God has for you this Lent, but deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. That’s the only way to find out.
“He leads the way, keep close to Him.”