“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Mark 8:34 (NIV)
If the narrow way did not require us to deny ourselves, we would gladly walk upon it.
But our Lord tells us that the good way requires us to deny ourselves, so we hesitate.
Love requires that we deny ourselves.
Our Lord explains what He means by denying yourself - He calls it losing your life. He knows that we naturally want to save our life, more than that we want to gain the whole world.
Well not the whole world we mutter - just the part that is due me.
But friend see what that thought reveals - see that these thoughts stop us from following our Lord on the way that leads to life.
Our natural state is to cling to life, to preserve our life over all other lives.
Our Christian calling is to lose your life so others can live.
Is this true of our life in any practical sense?
Can we think of a single thing that we set aside for the benefit of others in our church?
Will I do without so that others can have?
Will I take more blame that is due, so that others can be praised?
Am I willing to be consumed by the local church I am in?
What is the difference between being chewed up and spit out by a local church and pouring my life out in a local church as an offering onto the Lord?
Seems like the same result for I am used up - but wait a minute
the 1st happens against your will but the 2nd happens because of your will
You willing chose to give up your life for Christ's church!
You took up your cross and followed your Lord on the Way.
No comments:
Post a Comment