Organizing the Inside – Day 277 Do You Love Your Life?

June 6, 2012 at 11:15 am · Filed under Encouragement, Faith, Inspiration, Love, Purpose, Wisdom, Women's Ministry and tagged: Deny Self, Loving God, Suffering Loss, The Cross

23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26 (KJV)

I believe Jesus had to make a decision.
Although Jesus was (and still is) 100% God, He was also 100% man and there was a time when He had to make a decision.  He had to decide if He was going to lay down His life. Now, some might say the decision was already made. I’d suggest that He fully reserved the right to change His mind. He said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:18 (NIV)

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus explained to His disciples what He was going through, He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Mark 14:34 (NIV) He then went on to pray, and asked God if He would take the cup away and at that very moment in time, (captured in verse 36) Jesus went from what He wanted to what God wanted. 36“Abba, Father,”he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:36 (NIV) It was His love that compelled Him to give. Remember He (Jesus) was the fulfillment of the law. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 (NIV) Also read Matthew 7:12.

What was the law? (God’s commands are part of the law) 29“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 (NIV) Jesus, because of His love for God and mankind, decided to lay down His life.  Also read Romans 13:8-10.

Who do you love? Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (KJV) Your husband is not your cross. Your job is not your cross. Denying yourself, your wants, your flesh, your own life, your own plans and taking up God’s plan for your life, no matter what that entails; that is your cross. Are you willing to suffer the loss for the gospel? Jesus prayed, “not my will, Thy will be done.” What is your prayer today? Are you willing to deny yourself and follow Him? Before you can follow Him, you must first take up your cross daily.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35 (NIV)

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