Scripture
“If you try to hang onto your life you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News you will save it.”
Observation
Jesus now comes to the heart of His message.
1. Who do you say I am? Every person must make up his/her mind about who Jesus is.
2. The necessity of the cross. There is no other way to be saved than through receiving the death of Jesus on the cross.
3. Discipleship- followers of Jesus must identify with His death on the cross. This means surrendering all of our rights, ambitions and dreams. “Not my will but yours be done.”
Application
It is in dying that we are raised to eternal life. As we walk along the Way of Jesus, and seek to draw ever closer to Him, He will identify aspects of our old nature that need to be put to death.
He will deal with all of our addictions and sinful habits- if we let Him.
This is the power of dying to ourselves- it unleashes the power of God to raise us to new life- abundant, eternal life.
Of course the process of dying to ourselves is painful. We must not shy away from the pain, but rather embrace it as the path to new life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, today I take up my cross to follow you. I recognise that in dying to myself I will be raised to a new life. Help me to stay the course and pursue you too the end regardless of the cost. Amen.
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