LONGSHOT

15APR24

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

We have a problem denying ourselves daily, don’t we?

We have a problem denying the lifestyle we had before we came to Christ, but that is what we are called to do. Verse twenty-five explains it pretty well.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

When we try to save things or be in control that is when we lose control, because nothing we do is in our own power, but Christ through us. When we learn to give it all to Christ, to lose our life, to surrender our strength, that is when we find ourselves.

Today the world affirms sinful lifestyles and makes it seem normal or celebrated. This has bled into the Church culture as you have seen in LGBTQ affirming churches that perform homosexual marriages. When Christ is truly in our heart, there will be change. When Christ is truly in our heart, we will make intentional growth toward denying ourselves and becoming more like him. We will not continue to intentionally live a lifestyle that does not glorify the God we claim to worship.

This can be said about any sin or lifestyle that someone struggles with. But, as Christians we are called to look different. We are called to be in this world, but not of this world, and we should be noticeably different from the world, not identical to it.

Prayer: Dear Lord help us surrender our lives completely to you. Our strength is insufficient, and we rely solely upon you. Help us to deny ourselves and deny the world. In Jesus name I pray, amen.