For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospels will save it. (Mark 8:35 NKJV)
What's interesting about this is the verse says that if we desire to save our lives it is a problem. Not whethever we do or not is immaterial it is more the intention of the heart. if it is our desire, where springs the outome of our lives. So it boils down to what is your heart set on? Is it set on growing in the matters of God? Or is it set on keeping everything as it is, the status quo.
If our desire is truly to grow in Christ, I mean that growth in Christ becomes the desire of our heart then we have an alignment of our will and God's will. When this happens all of the things that come our way whether they are good, bad or indifferent can be useful in God's hands toward growing us into the image of Christ. Conversely if our desire is to remain as we are which is another way of saying "saving our lives" if we are intent on keeping things the same and comfortable around us then we will be disturbed by almost everything that comes our way. Good, bad or indifferent, it will not matter. So what is your heart set on. God is always teaching, always urging us to grow. Are we willing to be in on what He is doing in us or are we trying to save or preserve our lives as they are?
APPLICATION
Today I will ask my wife to keep me accountable to any stubborn way in me and to point it out so that I am more plyable and attentive to what God may be doing in my life.
Welcome
One of the most effective ways to allow the Word of God to affect your life is to study it inductively. That is what this blog is all about. Typically one verse per day will be mined for insight and then followed up with how I plan to implement that insight practically. My prayer is that in some way you find this useful in your journey and that it may impact you positively. -G
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Mark 8:34 - Get With It
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said:"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
I find it interesting that He called the crowd to him and told them along with the disciples that if they want to be a disciple they must deny themselves. die to self. be willing, daily to put to death their own selfish ambitions and desires and surrender them over to the will of the Father.
For the crowd this might be new news however for the disciples is it possible that they needed to be reminded of this principle in order to remain in the right attitude and be worthy of the term disciple. As we consider what was just going on that prompted this in the first place was a disciple, namely Peter who had the audacity to rebuke Jesus trying to persuade him toward some other path besides the one laid out by the Father. You see anything that is not of faith, or that is outside of the will of God is of this world and is at it's core evil. This is why Jesus rebukes Peter back with the famous, "get behind me Satan" statement. Harsh? yes. Correct? yes, Was this term "satan" necessary? absolutely. For we so easily fall away from the path of holiness and get distracted by our own prevailing, deceitful ways.
APPLICATION
I need to examine myself and see if there be any thought, attitude or intention that is not of God. When I find such I need ask the HS to reveal to me the lie that I am believing and then to find the truth that is the antidote to that lie and then memorize it.
I find it interesting that He called the crowd to him and told them along with the disciples that if they want to be a disciple they must deny themselves. die to self. be willing, daily to put to death their own selfish ambitions and desires and surrender them over to the will of the Father.
For the crowd this might be new news however for the disciples is it possible that they needed to be reminded of this principle in order to remain in the right attitude and be worthy of the term disciple. As we consider what was just going on that prompted this in the first place was a disciple, namely Peter who had the audacity to rebuke Jesus trying to persuade him toward some other path besides the one laid out by the Father. You see anything that is not of faith, or that is outside of the will of God is of this world and is at it's core evil. This is why Jesus rebukes Peter back with the famous, "get behind me Satan" statement. Harsh? yes. Correct? yes, Was this term "satan" necessary? absolutely. For we so easily fall away from the path of holiness and get distracted by our own prevailing, deceitful ways.
APPLICATION
I need to examine myself and see if there be any thought, attitude or intention that is not of God. When I find such I need ask the HS to reveal to me the lie that I am believing and then to find the truth that is the antidote to that lie and then memorize it.
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