hard teachings
Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 7:19 amthis is what i learned this morning in my reading ...
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [[p]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].
~~~
the Lord is pushing me to a deeper level of commitment to Him; that will manifest itself in my marriage, and this is the scripture that He used to show me.
the phrase that bothers me is from verse 24 ..."follow me [...if need be, in dying, also]" ... right there ... the "dying" part.
He asked me ... "are you willing to die to self" ... now really, He's the king of the universe right? why does He ask me this question, does He not know the answer? yes, i know the answer ---> He wants me to search my heart and find out where i'm not cleaving steadfastly and conforming wholly ...
its so easy to sit in my quiet spot with God every morning until He calls me out on something ... this was one of these mornings. its funny, how much better can you be than best; how much "gooder" can you be than good; ... how much more submissive can you be than submissive? ... obviously ... more
i don't know what this is going to look like in my future. but i trust Him.
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [[p]cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].
~~~
the Lord is pushing me to a deeper level of commitment to Him; that will manifest itself in my marriage, and this is the scripture that He used to show me.
the phrase that bothers me is from verse 24 ..."follow me [...if need be, in dying, also]" ... right there ... the "dying" part.
He asked me ... "are you willing to die to self" ... now really, He's the king of the universe right? why does He ask me this question, does He not know the answer? yes, i know the answer ---> He wants me to search my heart and find out where i'm not cleaving steadfastly and conforming wholly ...
its so easy to sit in my quiet spot with God every morning until He calls me out on something ... this was one of these mornings. its funny, how much better can you be than best; how much "gooder" can you be than good; ... how much more submissive can you be than submissive? ... obviously ... more
i don't know what this is going to look like in my future. but i trust Him.