“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.”
— Titus 2:11–12

When Yeshua appeared, revelation came into our hearts from heaven, and the revelation was this: we should live godly lives by denying worldly desires. But unfortunately the gospel many are hearing today is one that feeds the flesh and doesn’t call on people to deny themselves.

The gospel the apostles delivered to us involves sacrifice. Yet sadly sometimes we only obey God when it is convenient. And when we are called to deny ourselves, we push away the conviction of the Holy Spirit and do what we want.

Jesus said if we are to come after Him, we must pick up our cross, deny ourselves, and follow Him. What does it mean to pick up our cross? It means we sacrifice what we want. Jesus denied what His flesh wanted. He didn’t want to go to the cross in His flesh, but He denied what He wanted to be obedient to the Father.

I don’t know what the Father has been speaking to you about—where He is asking you to discipline yourself or what He is asking you to give up for Him. But, beloved, if you want to know Him in a deep way, you have to obey. And if you choose His narrow path, He will reveal more and more of Himself and His love to you. And not only that, beloved, but Jesus is coming back soon, and His reward is with Him, so stay the course and deny ungodliness.

Father God, I ask that You help me take up my cross and deny my flesh so I can live sensibly, righteously, and godly before You each day.

Rabbi Kirt A. Schneider, Rivers of Revelation (Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House, 2020), Used by permission.