“The way of self-denial is the very same path that leads to life.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – October 11, 2025
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. Mark 8:34-35, ESV
One of the hardest lessons for me to learn is that Christ did not come to affirm all of my wants and desires but instead teaches me to have them transformed through a life of repentance and self-denial. You’d think this would eventually “click,” and we would live truly free of our broken desires and distorted pleasures, yet we mustn’t underestimate just how deeply our self-love runs, or how fully it needs to be healed by the grace and mercy of God.
You and I will never graduate from the school of self-denial. As soon as we find victory in one area, we will be reminded once again of yet another way in which we are tempted to put our own desires ahead of someone else, to pursue selfish pleasure instead of selfless service. When our Lord says to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow him, this is not a one-time invitation but is instead meant to be the constant orientation of your entire life.
Though we are tempted to doubt it, let us also never forget that the way of self-denial is the very same path that leads to life. Jesus is himself the very definition of abundant life, life as it is most perfectly seen and expressed, and so every time we say “no” to our broken desires, we in fact take a step away from death and toward life as it was made to be lived. If we lose sight of this, we will lack the courage and steadfastness needed to take up the cross on a daily basis. Yet if we remember the cross leads to resurrection, we can, with faith and even joy, choose to walk the path of self-denial, believing it is how our lives will be saved.
Prayer
Father, help us to find joy and life in the journey of self-denial, remembering that the cross is the way that leads to resurrection life, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Ask the Lord to help you today find joy amid the struggle.
Related Reading
John 10:10; Romans 12:1; Philippians 2:5-8
Worship Resource
Jon Guerra: Take Up Your Cross
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