Who Are You Laying Down For?

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, ant those who lose their life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?  Or what will they give in return for their life? Matthew 16:24-27

Most of us do want to believe we really do follow Christ – at least o the important stuff. But a true relationship with the Lord, begins with a cry for help – the realization that we have nothing to save us from ourselves, the world etc.  Unless we allow Christ to step in and teach us how to do life leaning on Him to complete us, we will be limited to what we are able to make out this life.  Through Him we learn courage and mastery of fear.  Only then can we be true God raised apostles to the Christ who goes before us.

So let me ask these questions for us to think about:

Are you laying your life down?

If so, for who’s sake?

You can lay your life down for many things, people even yourself.  If it isn’t for Christ’s sake you will still lose your life but have nothing gained.  At least selfish people will have had selfish gain by not laying down their life for anyone or Christ.  But all those things are fleeting and end in dust.

Peter did not understand Christ laying his “self” down for selfless reasons.  Christ used some of the harshest words recorded when He calls Peter “Satan” because He was tempting Him to take the easy way out and rise to glory.  Our soul is lured to deflect us from the path God has set before us.  It says “come on – take the easy way out”, “give in to selfish desires for security and glory”.  Know this dying to self is an ignoble death and only through Christ himself empowered by the Holy Spirit can we also tell Satan to get behind us as a witness to the Lord God Almighty’s rightful position as Victor over all.

I ask that each of you pray for insight, wisdom and discernment in all these areas.  I pray that the Holy Spirit enliven you to see as you hear Christ Himself teach you as His very own disciple.

In the name of Christ, within His very heart – I believe

Kisses

Candace

©Candace Huffmaster, 2011 All Rights Reserved

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