Dying To Live

What does your life revolve around? As Christians, we need to lose our lives. When we deny ourselves by not focusing on our needs, it increases our ability to love others. Look what Jesus said in The Book of Luke (17:33), Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. Jesus was not necessarily referring to a physical death. In The Book of Matthew (19:29), He talks of forsaking things of this world. Things that we prioritize more than a relationship with Him.

In opposition to a personal relationship with Jesus, the world’s view is: individualized (all about me), sensationalized (modern entertainment) and over-publicized (social media). When we we live a self-centered life, everyone just gets our leftovers including God.

Look at the conversion of Saul recorded in the ninth chapter of The Book of Acts. Here, we find Saul traveling to Damascus as a very successful and talented man whose job was to identify, roundup and persecute believers in Jesus. In this chapter the writer Luke) speaks of Saul’s (now Paul) self-centered life (verses 1-6), his dying of self (verses 7-9) and finally his new life (verses 10-22). Paul was shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, imprisoned and eventually beheaded. He died to live in Christ!

So as you prepare to celebrate Easter and Jesus’ resurrection, ask yourself this question: Who or what are you living for?

Pastor Aaron