Several days a week I go to the gym. I need the exercise, and I don’t get much in my regular job. I usually stay for an hour or so, either working with weights or cardio. After about 20 minutes I’m ready to quit and go home. I think, that’s a plenty good workout, I can leave. Or I whine, I’m worn out, I’ll slide now and come back tomorrow when I’m rested.

But I know that the next 40 minutes brings the payoff. I’m already in the gym, warmed up, body moving and heart pumping. I’m on the cusp of the most fruitful time of exercise, if I can just deny that inner voice telling me to quit.

Good things happen when I deny myself.

In a much more serious way, Jesus spoke of the denial necessary for those who attempt to follow him:

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and take up the cross. Denial becomes a life and death matter. The health of my soul depends on following his words and rejecting my inner voice telling me to quit.

It’s tempting to deny the way of Jesus in order to gain the approval of the world. I can even stay really religious, and if I tuck away those biblical teachings regarding strict sexual practices or the sanctity of life no one will complain. But the way of the cross involves dealing with those issues and more, regardless of popularity or derision or safety.

It’s hard in the gym to deny myself, but I do so knowing the results are worth it. It’s even harder to deny myself and take up the cross as I navigate our cultural morass. But the payoff, my soul in the hands of our Savior, far exceeds the pain I may experience in this present moment.

Mark 8 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Samuel Girven