"He
is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose." —
Jim Elliot
We all have heard and most likely
repeated this quotation as so vitally important in our walk of true and living faith. It may be a thought that we would
probably publicly state that we agree with.
Still the reality is that it is a bit easier to agree with than the truthful
idea contained in the thought, than to actually live out the reality in our lives.
In a greater sense, most of us know and
most likely would say that we are followers of Jesus Christ. Yet Jesus puts it a
different way, “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my
follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and
follow me’’ (Luke 9:23 NLT). We know of His words regarding the giving up of
our lives to follow Him, but do we live that way.
There are millions of people that would
say they are Christians, there are millions of people that wear a cross around
their neck and there are millions of people that give up some things for their
Lord but there are few that really give up all as true followers. It is easy to speak of being a Christian
or wear a cross but it considerably more difficult to turn from our selfish
ways, pick up the cross daily and follow Christ. Yet, here is the interesting
and powerful reality in being a true follower and disciple of Jesus Christ … as
we give up our selfish ways and desires, we gain what we cannot lose. Of course we gain our salvation but beyond our salvation through the sanctification of Jesus Christ, we gain the eternal transformation which comes
as the Holy Spirit changes our hearts, actions and our very person-hood. We are made new and become a new person as
the old is left behind and transformed into the new creation by and in the saving and sanctifying grace of our Lord Jesus Christ ((2 Corinthians 5:17).
Most Christians rejoice in their
salvation from their sins and may share about being “born again” but in reality
most are hesitant and even resistant in their giving up in their lives or even
specific parts of their lives. Some people retain parts of our personalities that
they won’t let God transform because they cannot give them up. They Some people grasp tightly their material
possessions hardly acknowledging that all things we have are a gift from
God. Some people live their Christian
lives without the slightest giving up of anything. Thus faith, for many people
is something like an insurance card they carry in the car … they have the
assurance of what faith covers and they might need it from time to time but their
faith is not vital alive in all that they do.
Become a true follower of Jesus Christ.
Abandon yourself to Him. Follow Him in all that you do. Live out, all of your days,
your seasons and in every way by releasing them to Jesus Christ as your Lord. In word and deed look to Him not only as Savior but
as your Lord. You will have to give up some things along the way but you will
be transformed in their release and you definitely will gain what you cannot lose.
“And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17 KJV).
Suggested
Reading … Colossians 3
No comments:
Post a Comment