Mathew 16:24-27
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul ? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done."
When Jesus came down to earth, although He was the Son of God Himself, He was human in every way. He never forgot the reason why He was sent. He went about doing His Father's business. When the soldiers came to arrest Him, He had all the power in Him to consume them by fire. He could've sent a great earthquake to swallow them up. But as a lamb is led to its slaughter, Jesus gave Himself to be sacrificed. He took up His cross. He died. So that you and I will not die, but have everlasting life.
God doesn't expect us to physically sacrifice ourselves, rather, He wants us to be a living sacrifice. He wants us to start with little things. It could be giving up our spot in the queue for someone who needs it more than we do. To know the difference between our needs and wants. To put a smile on another person's face. To forgive. To be compassionate. To love. To be kind. There is a dearth of such people in this world. God wants you and I to be like that. To be like Jesus. We need to follow Jesus. Don't just stop with being a follower but take up your cross and be a disciple of Jesus.
Let us set our eyes on what is above. Only when we do, we realize our purpose. Fix your eyes on Jesus. When you lose something for the sake of God, God will restore your losses in double measure. Forgive others because you are forgiven. Help one another, because your help comes from the Lord. Love one another, because Jesus loves you. Pray for one another, because Jesus continually intercedes for you. Put others before yourselves, because Jesus put you before Himself. Remember, your reward is in heaven!
What does it mean to lose your life? Does it mean that you sell everything you own and give it to the poor and go on a pilgrimage? Perhaps. But not necessarily. There is an underlying meaning. It is the random act of kindness that you show to one another. To value others more than yourself. It is to reflect God's love in your life. We run behind something everyday. We chase our dreams. We struggle to have a good life. We strive to make ourselves happy. It's always about me, my family, my dreams. While running this race we forget about God's purpose for us. We forget God's plan for us. We work so hard in fulfilling our dreams, yet, without our knowledge, become less of God's dream for us.
Living a life without Jesus, doesn't make sense. Without Jesus, even though we live, we are dead. You may have everything in this world, but deep down in your heart, there is a void that no one can fill. A hole deeper and darker than any black hole. A God shaped vacuum. Only Jesus can fill your heart. Only He can give you peace that is permanent. Only he can make you smile at the storms. Laugh at tomorrow. Jesus came so that you may have life and have it abundantly! Find Jesus. Find life!
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul ? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done."
When Jesus came down to earth, although He was the Son of God Himself, He was human in every way. He never forgot the reason why He was sent. He went about doing His Father's business. When the soldiers came to arrest Him, He had all the power in Him to consume them by fire. He could've sent a great earthquake to swallow them up. But as a lamb is led to its slaughter, Jesus gave Himself to be sacrificed. He took up His cross. He died. So that you and I will not die, but have everlasting life.
God doesn't expect us to physically sacrifice ourselves, rather, He wants us to be a living sacrifice. He wants us to start with little things. It could be giving up our spot in the queue for someone who needs it more than we do. To know the difference between our needs and wants. To put a smile on another person's face. To forgive. To be compassionate. To love. To be kind. There is a dearth of such people in this world. God wants you and I to be like that. To be like Jesus. We need to follow Jesus. Don't just stop with being a follower but take up your cross and be a disciple of Jesus.
Let us set our eyes on what is above. Only when we do, we realize our purpose. Fix your eyes on Jesus. When you lose something for the sake of God, God will restore your losses in double measure. Forgive others because you are forgiven. Help one another, because your help comes from the Lord. Love one another, because Jesus loves you. Pray for one another, because Jesus continually intercedes for you. Put others before yourselves, because Jesus put you before Himself. Remember, your reward is in heaven!
What does it mean to lose your life? Does it mean that you sell everything you own and give it to the poor and go on a pilgrimage? Perhaps. But not necessarily. There is an underlying meaning. It is the random act of kindness that you show to one another. To value others more than yourself. It is to reflect God's love in your life. We run behind something everyday. We chase our dreams. We struggle to have a good life. We strive to make ourselves happy. It's always about me, my family, my dreams. While running this race we forget about God's purpose for us. We forget God's plan for us. We work so hard in fulfilling our dreams, yet, without our knowledge, become less of God's dream for us.
Living a life without Jesus, doesn't make sense. Without Jesus, even though we live, we are dead. You may have everything in this world, but deep down in your heart, there is a void that no one can fill. A hole deeper and darker than any black hole. A God shaped vacuum. Only Jesus can fill your heart. Only He can give you peace that is permanent. Only he can make you smile at the storms. Laugh at tomorrow. Jesus came so that you may have life and have it abundantly! Find Jesus. Find life!
