Whoever Desires to Follow Me Must Deny Himself

This is as clear and as plain as 2+2=4, and it is one of the basic truths of the gospel. Yet in spite of this, almost all the preachers in the entire world have left it out. No wonder there is so incredibly much sin and misery in the religious world.

The above-mentioned words by Jesus tell us clearly that the only possibility we have of following in His steps is by denying ourselves daily. In other words, I am the obstacle, the hindrance, and the difficulty. All other obstacles don’t really exist.

Because one lacks true light, one imagines that the others and other things are the hindrances, obstacles, and the many difficulties. What other people think, say, and do is their business. All that has nothing at all to do with what is my business. It is my glorious business to deny myself, my own will, so I can carry out God’s will. No one can hinder me from doing that! The Lord be highly praised!

Other people do all kinds of things. That is their business. But then it becomes my business to know, or to find out, what the Scriptures say I should do or in which way I should react in the many situations that I may encounter.

Then it is quite simply my business to deny myself and to obey God’s Word without making any fuss—and with joy! I become very happy by doing this very thing every time. It is never worse than that! That is how I avoid pitying myself. On the contrary, I ought to pity those who say or do something bad! Poor fellows!

For example, if someone does something bad to me, the whole thing is as simple as 2+2=4. It says clearly and as plainly as you could wish in Romans 12:21: “Overcome evil with good.” Therefore I deny myself, my own will, and do something good to that person. This is not a miserable job at all. On the contrary!

For example: someone wants to do me an injustice and take something which rightly belongs to me. That is his business. But according to 1 Corinthians 6 it is my business to suffer the injustice and thus walk in the steps of Jesus Christ in harmony with verse 7: “Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be defrauded?” That is my business. Then, if I deny my own desire and the will to defend my right, I truly walk in Jesus’ steps. No one has suffered such gross unrighteousness as He!