What does "not to do My own will" teach about self-denial? the verse in focus “For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” – John 6:38 understanding self-denial • “Not to do My own will” reveals self-denial as the deliberate surrender of personal preference in favor of the Father’s purposes. • It is not passivity; it is an active choosing of God’s agenda over one’s own. • The statement flows from perfect obedience rather than reluctant resignation. jesus as the perfect model • Luke 22:42: “Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Jesus maintains the same posture in Gethsemane, even when obedience costs Him dearly. • Philippians 2:5-8 portrays His entire incarnation as self-emptying service. • John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.” Self-denial becomes His sustaining delight. what self-denial looks like for believers • Matthew 16:24: denying self, taking up the cross, and following Him are inseparable commands. • Galatians 2:20: the self is crucified with Christ so that His life may be expressed. • Romans 12:1: offering the body as a living sacrifice is a daily, tangible act of yielding. practical steps to embrace self-denial 1. Start each day by affirming: “Your will be done in my choices, relationships, and ambitions.” 2. Evaluate motives: ask whether an action advances God’s kingdom or merely personal comfort. 3. Practice small acts of hidden service; they train the heart to prefer God’s pleasure over human applause. 4. Fast periodically; letting physical hunger remind the soul that God’s will is the truest nourishment. 5. Remain teachable under Scripture, allowing it to override opinions and reshape desires. cautions and encouragement • Self-denial is not self-contempt; it values the self enough to submit it to the One who created it. • The Father’s will is always good (Romans 8:28), even when it feels costly. • Joy follows surrender: “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). |
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