Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works. (Mat 16:24-27)
Jesus Christ calls us to die to ourselves daily and follow Him. We are to put away those things which keep us from obediently following the Master, and be what He calls us to be, committed and disciplined followers of Him. Whatever we try to hang on to, we will lose, and whatever we give to Him, He will bless, though not always in kind, but in abundance and according to His will and our faithfulness. Regardless, those that know Him, are to surrender all to Him, and obediently do that which He calls us to do. Nothing in this world will last, and nothing in the next will fail. Those who know Him are to die daily, that we may live for Him, and in Him, and He in us to the glory of GOD.
But, most of all, those who do not have a relationship with Christ through faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, must surrender to Him on His terms and receive Him. Those that are seeking fulfillment and the abundant life in any thing and any one besides the Living GOD, will be disappointed. Because all who have never received His forgiveness are under condemnation for sIn, are already judged and guilty, and separated from GOD, those that die without Christ and His Salvation will be eternally separated from Him in the second death, but those that die to themselves and receive Him by faith in what He has already done for them the forgiveness and reconciliation with GOD that He has already paid for, receive eternal life.
Those of us who know Him, must continue to die daily to ourselves that we may rest in Him, giving our needs to Him which GOD already knows, our wants which may not be for our good, and surrender to our Lord and King. He will supply all our need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, and He cares for us, and works all things together for our good, that we might accomplish the works we were before ordained to do in Christ.
Those works include ministering to the hurting around us, as His ambassadors, that they may see Jesus in us. We are to share His love with others and those in need, as He provides. We are to disciple one another in love and in His Word, that we may grow thereby, and all may know that we are His disciples indeed. Committed and disciplined followers of the Master, look to those who have gone before for example, walk with their brethren in unity, and teach and guide those who come behind us, that we all may grow in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, and become more like Christ. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ with all who will hear, that they may believe the Gospel, and have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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