DAY 3: Deny Yourself, Take Up the Mission

Living on mission starts with this: deny yourself.

That’s not motivational talk—it’s kingdom reality. Jesus didn’t call us to self-fulfillment; He called us to self-abandonment. The original Greek in Matthew 16 means to renounce self-interest, to lay down your will, plans, and preferences for the sake of Him.

This message is simple, but not easy. In a world obsessed with self-expression and self-preservation, Jesus invites us to find life through surrender. Not through climbing higher & higher, but kneeling lower & lower.

N.T. Wright says to deny oneself is to step into the radical values of the Kingdom—serving, not striving; surrendering, not securing. It’s not loss for loss’ sake. It’s a loss that leads to eternal gain.

When we follow Jesus this way, legacy naturally follows. Mission becomes less about doing something for God and more about becoming someone with Him. We don't just build ministries or moments—we build lives that echo eternity.

Reflection Questions:

1. What parts of your life still resist the invitation to deny yourself?
2. How have you defined “mission”? Has it been about doing or surrendering?
3. What’s one practical way you can embrace Jesus’ call to follow today?