Jesus made it very clear that in order for someone to be his disciple he or she must be willing to “deny himself [or herself]” (Matthew 16:24). Why? Because if God is the Greater Than then I must be willing to confess that I am not. This might be the most difficult greater than status of God for us to accept because it requires us to acknowledge that the world does not revolve around us. And this might also be the most important greater than status of God for us to accept because Jesus indicated that we have to “lose” our life in order to save it.
LUKE 9:18-24
18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” 21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”