Exodus 3:1–15; Romans 12:9–21; Matthew 16:21–28
Introduction
What happens when “me” becomes the center of life? We live in an age that constantly asks, “What do I want? What benefits me? What makes me comfortable?” Yet Jesus asks a radically different question: “What will you give up to follow Me?” The Gospel calls us from our throne of self to the altar of sacrifice. The way of Christ is not self-preservation at all costs but self-surrender for God's glory and our neighbor's good.
God calls us Beyond Ourselves
Moses encounters God at the burning bush, where ordinary ground becomes holy because of God's presence. The command, “Take off your sandals,” reflects Moses' reverence for God. A sense of awareness of being in the presence of the Supreme Being. Before Moses can become God's instrument, he must move from self-recognition to recognize who God is.
God then says, “I have seen the affliction of my people... I have heard their cry.” This reveals that God's calling is connected to God's compassion. Moses is called not to pursue personal ambition but to participate in God's redemptive mission.
Considering Moses' response: “Who am I?” His question reveals human inadequacy to pursue God's mission, but God's answer to him is soothing: “I will be with you.” Christian calling does not rest primarily on who we are but on who God is. The revelation “I AM WHO I AM” (Exo. 3.14) establishes God's self-sufficiency, autonomy, and faithful identity. The servant can sacrifice because the Sender is all-sufficient.
For the 21st-century Christian, this challenges a culture of self-promotion and popularity-driven ministry. Our gifts, careers, influence, and resources are not merely for our personal advancement but they are entrusted to us to drive God's mission.
Moses, a murderer, an asylum seeker, a shepherd over his in-law's flock, saw himself being in-adequate but the promise of God's presence made the great difference. Our calling requires us to move from the self to a sacrificial life in submission to Christ Jesus.
Love must Crucify Selfishness
Apostle Paul now shows what a cruciform life looks like in practice. “Let love be sincere” means Christian love must be without hypocrisy. The Christian is commanded to honour others, serve faithfully, rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, refuse revenge, feed a hungry enemy, and overcome evil with good. This is a calling to leave all acts of self-satisfaction to pursue God's will.
Beloved, these imperatives from Romans 12:9-21 dismantle self-centered Christianity. Genuine discipleship appears in relationships: forgiving when offended, serving when unnoticed, giving when inconvenient, and blessing even when cursed.
Paul's command, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12.21), is profoundly countercultural. The Christian conquers not through retaliation or revenge but through Christlike goodness, meekness, humility, and love for all.
Self-Denial: The Way of the Cross
Peter had confessed Jesus as Messiah, but he rejected the Messiah's suffering. Jesus responds sharply to him, “Get behind me, Satan!” Peter wanted a crown without a cross; Jesus insists that God's kingdom comes through sacrificial suffering.
Then comes the defining call: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Self-denial is not self-hatred. It is dethroning self so Christ becomes Lord. Taking up the cross means accepting the cost of obedience even when discipleship is inconvenient, unpopular, or painful.
It is said, "When Christ calls someone, He bids him to come and die.” The cross kills our self-demands to remain in focus to Christ's mission.
Conclusion
My question to you is, who is on the throne?
The great battle of Christian discipleship is often not between good and evil, but between Christ and self. The cross asks us to surrender our pride, comfort, revenge, possessions, ambitions, and need for recognition.
Moses discovered that God's presence was greater than his inadequacy. Paul demonstrated that love becomes visible through sacrificial action. Jesus revealed that genuine discipleship follows the road of the cross.
Precious one, what must you lay down to follow Christ?
The way of the cross moves us from “What can I get?” to “What can I give?”; from “Protect me” to “Use me”; from self-centeredness to Christ-centered sacrifice.
For Jesus declares: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25).
Lose your life in Christ today and discover the life you were created to live. Amen.
Shalom aleikhem...
