Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

December 16
Monday


LIVING
BACKWARD

READ:
Matthew 16:21-28
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Whoever loses his life
for My sake will find it.
__Matthew 16:25
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The Chicago River is unusual because it flows backward. Engineers reversed its direction over a century ago because city-dwellers were using it as a dump. dishwater, sewage, and industrial waste all funneled into the river, which emptied into Lake Michigan. Since the lake supplied drinking water for the city, thousands grew sick and died before city authorities decided to redirect the river to flow backward, away from the lake.

When we look at the earthly life of Jesus, it may seem backward from what we would expect. As the King of glory, He came to earth as a vulnerable infant. As God in the flesh, He endured accusations of blasphemy. As the only sinless man, He was crucified as a criminal. But Jesus lived on earth according to God's will(John 6:38).

As followers of Chirst, to clothe ourselves with Jesus' attitudes and actions may appear "backward." Blessing our enemies (Rom. 12:14). Valuing godliness over wealth (1 Tim. 6:6-9), and taking joy in hardship (James 1:3) seem to oppose worldly wisdom. Yet, Jesus said "Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matt. 16:25).

Don't worry if living your life sometimes means operating in reverse, God will give you the strength to honor Him, and He will propel you forward. __Jennifer Benson Schuldt

```````````````````Dear God, please give me the strength to go````````````````
`````````````````against the flow of this world. Help me to resist``````````````
``````````````````what is wrong in your eyes and to act in ways````````````````
``````````````````that please You, for the glory of Your name.``````````````````
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Clothing ourselves with Jesus' attitudes and actions
shows His presence in our lives.

****************************Today's Bible Reading __ Matthew 16:21-28*****************************

21 From that time Jesus
began to show to His
disciples that He must go to
Jerusalem, and sufffer many
thing from the elders and
chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised
the thrid day.

22 Then Peter took Him
aside and began to rebuke
Him, saying, "Far be it
from You, Lord; this shall
not happen to You!"

23 But He turned and said
to Peter, "Get behind Me,
Satan! You are an offense to
Me, for you are not mindful
of the things of God, but
the things of men."

24 Then Jesus said to His
disciples, "If anyone desires
to come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up
his cross, and follow Me.

25 For whoever desires to
save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for
My sake will find it. 26 For
what profit is it to a man if
he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul? Or
what will a man give in
exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of Man will
come in the glory of His
Father with His angels, and
then he will reward each
according to his works.

28 Assuredly, I say to you,
there are some standing
here who shall not taste
death till they see the Son
of Man coming in His
kingdom."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Following his declaration of Jesus as the Messiah (Matt. 16:13-19),
Peter denied that the cross of Christ could be the pathway to glory
(vv.21-23). Because of his confusion about the plan of God, he
inadvertently fell into a lie of Satan. If we are not sensitive to the
Spirit's guidance (John 16:13), we too can be deceived. Thankfully,
after Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter was empowered by the
Spirit to become a bold witness for Christ (Acts 2).