Ephesians 5:2
“and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
We are to walk in love, just as Christ did. How did He demonstrate this? By giving himself up for us. He lived His life for others. So much so that He gave up His life for us. The world does not do this. It can't even come close to comprehending it. The world's mottos are" "Go for the gusto", "Be all you can be", "You're number one", and so on.
Jesus' motto was “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me", (Matthew 16:24). One may ask, "What's the fun in that?". Good question. It's the complete opposite of the world's. Many could understand the concept that self focus leaves us empty. The bible certainly explains it. The prodigal son is a great example of self focus leading to ruin.
Many may also give a nod to the fact that self sacrifice is satisfying. Few live that way. As we read God's word and let Him guide, He leads to all sorts of situations. Opportunities to love, to forgive, to help and so on. It's exciting to know the God of the universe is in us, loving and approving of us and is guiding us to deny ourselves and serve others.
What does it mean to take up one's cross? It's an instrument of death. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." When we deny ourselves, we are crucifying our old nature and giving place to the new.
Our old nature is selfish, it demands it's rights, it's way. God's way is to step aside and serve others. Particularly the lowly and those in need. The widows and orphans are the most neglected. But there are plenty more that are in need. He brings people across our path to minister to. Those are the ones we serve.
This is a new life, to serve others. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, "And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again." We live for Him and He says we to serve others.
This used to scare me. I would think, "Who can I serve?" and would go to the convalescent home and talk to old people. I don't think that's how it works. We go through our days doing our tasks. If God brings one across our path, then we are to serve them. It's not wrong to seek our the needy and there are times for that. But I think it's those that we run into by the way.
The reason the world seeks it's way first is to self satisfy. While there is pleasure in sin for a season, real joy comes by serving God and others. There is the natural good feeling from helping. Our conscience smiles at us, but even more is the joy God gives by being right with Him. David says, "My cup runneth over", (Psalm 23). We don't need to pursue our own satisfaction. God gives it.
Can we have hobbies and activities? Sure, but we can serve others as we do them. Life in Christ isn't monastic, in which we deny pleasure. Crossline Church's motto is, "Love God, Love others, Have a blast." That's it.
The world and the devil lie to us. They tell us we're missing out and God's ways are outdated. Adam and Eve learned that. Don't buy into that lie. God is enough.
Thank You, Lord, for teaching us to give up ourselves for Your sake. Thank You that true fulfillment comes from You.