“Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26
How strange this must have sounded to the disciples and how much more strange it must sound to most today. We live in a culture of pleasure seeking where success is measured in monetary gain and the ease in which we live our lives. I’m afraid that the world’s culture has found its way into the hearts, minds and lives of many Christians. It is getting harder to see the difference between the born again and the lost.
Too many believe that to deny their selves anything would be to drop out of the game of life. Too often we believers choose comfort over the taking up of our cross and if we are to follow the Lord Jesus Christ it must not interfere with our own hopes, dreams and schedules (Tee times,tip offs and kick offs) that we have chosen for ourselves. When we choose to deny our own plans, our own will and our own desires we will walk down the path of the Lord’s wonderful and exciting plan He has for our lives. When we suffer for the cause of Christ and choose to give ourselves to Him wholeheartedly, we will truly be living. We will experience true joy and purpose that will flow from heaven. It is and will be the best life. We cannot straddle the fence as believers because that brings a division in our hearts. To have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s plan for our lives, will never work.
Ask yourself, "Is what I am living for worthy of Jesus dying"? I pray that the Lord meets with each of us.
Matthew 16:24-26
How strange this must have sounded to the disciples and how much more strange it must sound to most today. We live in a culture of pleasure seeking where success is measured in monetary gain and the ease in which we live our lives. I’m afraid that the world’s culture has found its way into the hearts, minds and lives of many Christians. It is getting harder to see the difference between the born again and the lost.
Too many believe that to deny their selves anything would be to drop out of the game of life. Too often we believers choose comfort over the taking up of our cross and if we are to follow the Lord Jesus Christ it must not interfere with our own hopes, dreams and schedules (Tee times,tip offs and kick offs) that we have chosen for ourselves. When we choose to deny our own plans, our own will and our own desires we will walk down the path of the Lord’s wonderful and exciting plan He has for our lives. When we suffer for the cause of Christ and choose to give ourselves to Him wholeheartedly, we will truly be living. We will experience true joy and purpose that will flow from heaven. It is and will be the best life. We cannot straddle the fence as believers because that brings a division in our hearts. To have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s plan for our lives, will never work.
Ask yourself, "Is what I am living for worthy of Jesus dying"? I pray that the Lord meets with each of us.
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