PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 9:21-27
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24)
Jesus is not asking us to choose death, but to choose him!
To choose Jesus is to choose everything he stands for.
Life, goodness, justice, mercy, love, joy, peace, etc.
Not just for ourselves, but for everyone!
Following Jesus is like Mother Theresa following compassion.
Or like Martin Luther King Jr. pursuing justice and racial equality.
They did not choose suffering or death, but their choice led to them.
Jesus urges us to stand up for justice, mercy, compassion, etc. with him.
He has won the war for us, now we fight the good fight with him.
Is my only motivation for Jesus my own forgiveness and eternal life?
Then I have not understood Jesus, who lived and died for all!
His cross was a cross for others, not for himself; our cross is the same.
Do I care for those who suffer, who struggle, who need help or love?
Jesus is calling me to get off the couch, and into the battle: follow him!
PRAYER
Lord, forgive us for turning the cross into a personal perk, rather than a passionate calling, a life worth living! Help me to live for you, even if that means difficulty… or death!
I like to be secure – prepared – so I save and am very careful with my finances. But sometimes it stands in the way of being generous and taking risks. When Jesus says: “whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it” – I realize that I’ve got it all wrong. If I really want to gain life, I’ve got to be willing to risk it in service – that includes my ‘so called’ securities that are stored up for the future. Lord, help me not to hang on – but to be a willing steward – willing to give and serve – and as I do I know I gain so much more – your blessing is what I need – more important than any retirement funds! Lead me, guide me along the way – each day in gratitude to serve you! Forgive me for being reserved! Help me to be free!
The only way to to save my own life is to give it to God. The more I try to hold on to prosperity, success, ambition, the more I lose myself in the trappings – Lord help me relinquish control and leave it to you to save my life!
Word and deed. Indeed. All for Jesus. I am not my own but belong to Him. All that I am I owe to Him. I need to be His servant true this day and every day. Lord, help me to stand up for Jesus and share His light to those around me. Help me be a servant true.
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
All of my ambitions, hopes and plans
I surrender these into Your hands
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
For it’s only in Your will that I am free
Jesus, all for Jesus
All I am and have and ever hope to be