There is confusion about the importance of self in today’s world.  As disciples, we are all called to deny self as we take up across.This is not talking about selfhood (being a individual) God has made you with a personality and you are uniquely you and you should be grateful for what God has done. We call that self-acceptance. The self we are to deny is  our selfish desires that put ourselves before God and others. The self that wants to be the boss and be in control. It must be denied.  All of its little out breaks of self centeredness, selfishness, self protection and self promotion.Too many believers think the only one dying in the gospel is Jesus. We have proclaimed loudly the death of Jesus to gain us, but speak with less conviction about our death to gain him. Like the song says “Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die.”He died for our sins but we are to die to our sins. Friend,  thank fully we can now walk with God but “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?  Jesus is perfect and doesn’t change so it is only us that need to adjust.  Let’s take up the cross and imitate him.