3-1-12
Deny Thyself
(Lose Your Life)
34 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. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Mark 8:34-36)
I always struggled with this passage in the past. Thanks to the Holy Spirit for revealing it's meaning to me. The goal of every Christian is to become more Christlike. To build and maintain a relationship with the Godhead. The only way that it will happen is to put aside our own needs and desires and to pursue the things and affairs of God. God already loves us and will give us our heart's desires. Our wants and needs are to be put aside so that we can live wholly for Jesus.
I will die to myself daily and live for Jesus.
Almighty God, we thank you for your grace and love. We thank you for your son Jesus. Help me Holy Spirit to stay close to you and to help me to pursue God and the things and affairs of God. Amen.
