All for Him
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it…” (Luke 9:23, 24 ESV)
It’s all about perspective isn’t it? From the time we’re born we are told by the world to grab what we can, get ahead, win, consume, feast, lust, do what we want in order to live life to the fullest. And if it weren’t for the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead, then they might have something. You see, if there was no resurrection then we who are followers of Christ are to be most pitied. ( 1 Co. 15:9 )
The perspective of the world is that time is short and you need to ravage life for all you can, true hedonism. Take, consume, feast, etc. In the world’s eyes, this life is all there is.
But Jesus has called us to a higher purpose, has called me to a higher standard. That purpose and standard is Him and his glory.
Deny myself? The world tells me to enjoy myself. Seek pleasure. But if I’m to follow Christ, my heart cannot be about me and what I want, but must be about Him and what He wants.
Taking up my cross is calling me to daily crucify my wants and desires to rid myself of me. This is in complete opposition of what the world tells me I should do. To take up my cross is to put all that I am to death in exchange for all that He is and wants for me.
If our daily thoughts are self preservation, saving ourselves, then we’ll have a life filled with personal accomplishment, self satisfaction and a sense of safety all built around worldly things. Jobs, titles, trophies, 401K’s, savings accounts, etc. Not that any of that is bad or wrong, but of that is our focus, as followers of Christ, we’ve missed the point.
The crux of this statement is in this last part of verse 24 “but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Upon reading this, we immediately think of martyrdom. I know I used to. Then I started really examining it, losing my life for His sake is more about losing all I hold dear, letting go of all that I see as precious, in order for me to have empty hands to do the work he has called me to do.
As I look at my life thus far, all I have done and experienced, nothing is more precious and meaningful than when I was being used by the Lord to do His will and bring him glory. I have been part of some pretty amazing things for my career and not one of those things, not one paycheck, can even come close to when I am serving the Lord. My most amazing memories of my life thus far are filled with teaching God’s word, serving people is His name, and bringing smiles to people that need Jesus’ love. If that means I have wasted my life in the world’s eyes, so be it.
Our lives have been bought for a price and come with instructions. Let’s live to be worthy of his name. Take up our crosses as he did for us. Let’s lose our lives in His.
His way is better. His life is more fulfilling. His reward is more glorious than all the riches in all the world.
Lord, help me to release all I am to you. Please continue to show me where I need to be wholly consecrated into thee. Grant me the courage to give up all I hold dear in order that I may hold on to all of you.
Be blessed,
M
