Loving or Losing Our Lives [podcast]

Let go and let God. Let Jesus have all of you, without reserve.

“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that LOVETH his life shall lose it; and he that HATETH his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:

“12:25 Many people think that the important things in life are food, clothing, and pleasure. They live for these things. But in thus loving their lives, they fail to realize that the soul is more important than the body. By neglecting their soul’s welfare, they lose their lives. On the other hand, there are those who count all things loss for Christ. To serve Him, they forego things highly prized among men. These are the people who will keep their lives for eternal life. To hate one’s life means to love Christ more than one loves his own interests.” Believer’s Bible Commentary

“Jesus wants to be our first love. And He wants to know we are fully devoted to Him. Are we willing to give up all if asked? Or are we a half way Christian? We don’t really love Him enough to forsake all! Jesus says if you do not forsake all you cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26-27,33). Our Lord commands that our loyalty and love for Him be greater than anything or anyone else in our lives. He is a jealous God and will have nothing before Him.” Karen Cochran

Love vs Hate

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Matthew 6:24

You cannot serve two masters so stop trying to.

Are you serving the Savior or self?

Serving self is sin—idolatry. Either the faith you claim to have is bringing a changed life that is living to glorify Christ or it is a false faith. Read James 2.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

“I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:14-17

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:16

“It is more blessed to GIVE than to RECEIVE.” Acts 20:35

Cry out to Jesus. Living sacrifice…

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John 3:30

Why did Jesus say that the Laodicean’s were “miserable”? It was because they counted the riches of this fleeting world to be important….

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelation 3:15-18

The happiest, “more blessed,” most joyful people we meet are the givers—those who’ve given their life and therefore their substance (Acts 20:35). Their hearts are full of joy because as they continue to give their life and substance, they are perpetually freed of the sins of greed and covetousness. Their hearts are filled with joy for participating in the Gospel of the One they love.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

The 3 Ways We Participate in God’s Work—the Great Commission Mandate He gave Us—the Spread of His Word into the Hearts of Men:

1. Prayer (Matthew 9:35-38).
2. Giving (Acts 20:35).
3. Spreading the Gospel, the Word personally (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Romans 10:14-15).

Are you contributing, participating?

How can we possibly claim to be serving Christ who gave all, if we ourselves are not giving ourselves to Him and supplying His work?

When we truly give our lives to Christ, all we have in our temporary possession will be His, not ours.

True disciples of Jesus live with an eternal perspective, realizing that this world we now live in is temporary (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; James 4:14).

Prayer: Holy Father, grant my heart to understand the brevity of this life and to invest in Your eternal kingdom while we can in this brief window. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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