Good Morning Self Deniers, today we dig into Luke 9
“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” Luke 9:23-25 NIV
The process Jesus is speaking of here requires saying no to your flesh - your desires. The shiny things of this world ultimately leave us wanting and empty. We know this inside. It’s why we move from one thing to the next. What do the wealthy want more anything else? More money. What about a national champion? Another championship. When is it ever enough? Answer - NEVER! That’s why we live in a world full of addiction. Drug, alcohol, sex, adrenaline, money, achievement, food, shopping - think of just about any way we can indulge ourselves and likely you can associate it with addiction. That’s because anything of this world can only provide temporary satisfaction. It’s short lived - then we need more. Jesus is simply saying if we want to follow Him we have to put those desires aside. He needs to be the thing we desire, seek, and long for most!
He takes it even further. An instrument of death, the cross was so much more than the romanticized piece of jewelry we wear today. He’s using it to symbolize the death to self and self gratification that He’s talking about. Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul in Romans reminds us, that because Jesus gave His life for our salvation it makes sense we give Him ours everyday. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 NIV. The KJV says this is your REASONABLE act of worship. It’s reasonable to think that in light of Jesus giving us eternity in heaven we give Him our lives while we’re here.
Dig in! Get to know Him! Fall in love and serve Him by loving others! Love ‘Em Like Jesus.
“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?” Luke 9:23-25 NIV
The process Jesus is speaking of here requires saying no to your flesh - your desires. The shiny things of this world ultimately leave us wanting and empty. We know this inside. It’s why we move from one thing to the next. What do the wealthy want more anything else? More money. What about a national champion? Another championship. When is it ever enough? Answer - NEVER! That’s why we live in a world full of addiction. Drug, alcohol, sex, adrenaline, money, achievement, food, shopping - think of just about any way we can indulge ourselves and likely you can associate it with addiction. That’s because anything of this world can only provide temporary satisfaction. It’s short lived - then we need more. Jesus is simply saying if we want to follow Him we have to put those desires aside. He needs to be the thing we desire, seek, and long for most!
He takes it even further. An instrument of death, the cross was so much more than the romanticized piece of jewelry we wear today. He’s using it to symbolize the death to self and self gratification that He’s talking about. Galatians 2:20 says “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul in Romans reminds us, that because Jesus gave His life for our salvation it makes sense we give Him ours everyday. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 NIV. The KJV says this is your REASONABLE act of worship. It’s reasonable to think that in light of Jesus giving us eternity in heaven we give Him our lives while we’re here.
Dig in! Get to know Him! Fall in love and serve Him by loving others! Love ‘Em Like Jesus.
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