Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:24-28

We live in a “you do you, and I’ll do me” kind of culture. It’s a culture that highly values individualism, and the message that everybody has the right to be their own genuine selves— to wear whatever you want to wear, to vote however you want to vote, and to believe your own versions of truth. After all, as long as your genuine self doesn’t harm someone else, why should anyone else get to tell you how you should live? What’s so wrong with you doing what “works” best for you, and others doing what “works” best for them?

There are at least two problems with this very prevalent message: (1) it assumes you can know what actually “works” best for yourself, and (2) it assumes you’re not causing any harm just because you can’t see any harm. But let’s be honest, if you and I were capable of making decisions that worked best for ourselves, then why do so many of us live with so much regret and experience so many broken relationships? Why do you and I keep doing things and saying things that hurt ourselves and hurt those around us (especially those closest to us)? Why do so many of us lack wisdom in our lives? Perhaps “you doing you, and me doing me” isn’t the answer, but it’s actually the problem that’s at the heart of so many of our issues in life.

This is precisely why Jesus doesn’t say, “you do you” but he actually says, “die.” He calls us to die to all the ways we’ve been doing things our own way, and to follow his way instead. Jesus calls us to trust that he knows better so that we would choose his way and his will instead of our own. What areas of your life do you need to die to yourself and trust in Jesus to lead you? Spend time praying that God would give you the desire and will to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and start following Jesus in those areas.