Self-Denial of Jesus
John 4:1 - 30 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.
Tired as he was, Jesus was fully human, and it is easy to forget that he was completely man, needing food, sleep, refreshment and all of the other things that are distinctly part of our daily lives. Our bodies constantly cry out with needs: sleep, food, water, diversion, and fun.
Jesus was a model of self-denial; he spent his days ministering to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the people around him. I am certain we all know how draining it can be to minister to people. As you read on in this account you see Jesus initiating and meeting the needs of the Samaritan woman, overcoming her attempts to brush him off.
In Jesus' day people were not plagued with materialism that today's church has. Wealth was not abundant and the problem of spending and possession was not like our reality. Most people stayed in their class for the remainder of their lives and what is significant, is there was no priority placed on worldly goods, economic systems and social transformation.
That self-denial of Jesus convicts hearts about how easily we choose to meet needs over choosing what is best.
Are you driven by meeting your needs or by what is best?
How well do you discern between your needs and your wants?
Meditate on self-denial in Jesus life and your own.
Is Self Denial a characteristic of the Christian Life?
Tired as he was, Jesus was fully human, and it is easy to forget that he was completely man, needing food, sleep, refreshment and all of the other things that are distinctly part of our daily lives. Our bodies constantly cry out with needs: sleep, food, water, diversion, and fun.
Jesus was a model of self-denial; he spent his days ministering to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the people around him. I am certain we all know how draining it can be to minister to people. As you read on in this account you see Jesus initiating and meeting the needs of the Samaritan woman, overcoming her attempts to brush him off.
In Jesus' day people were not plagued with materialism that today's church has. Wealth was not abundant and the problem of spending and possession was not like our reality. Most people stayed in their class for the remainder of their lives and what is significant, is there was no priority placed on worldly goods, economic systems and social transformation.
That self-denial of Jesus convicts hearts about how easily we choose to meet needs over choosing what is best.
Are you driven by meeting your needs or by what is best?
How well do you discern between your needs and your wants?
Meditate on self-denial in Jesus life and your own.
Is Self Denial a characteristic of the Christian Life?
posted by qtip at 9:42 p.m.
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