If Anyone Wishes…
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If Anyone Wishes…
We all have so many good wishes for our well-being. Our dreams can get pretty big. Some people imagine that heaven is theirs for the taking, even though they don’t give a hoot about faith in Christ Jesus. They are confident that their self-confidence will easily open heaven’s doors.
But, Jesus says there’s more to it than that. In Luke 9:23-26, Jesus says,
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Jesus has ascended into heaven as our victorious Savior and LORD of lords. Heaven is the glorious home of all of God’s children — those who have put their faith in Jesus and look forward to an eternally close fellowship with our LORD. Jesus states plainly that His followers are not ashamed to claim Him as their Savior from sin. In other words, they know they are sinners in need of a real salvation.
Those who wish to follow Jesus here on earth are wishing to be with Him for all eternity — away from all the ugliness of sin and unbelief. But, that glorious wish and hope comes with a price. We are to: deny ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow Jesus.
When we deny ourselves, we are not thinking of ourselves first. We need to be thinking of Jesus first. So, in every life situation, our first thought should be, “How can I best serve Christ in this situation?” If we are facing a temptation, facing mockery, hatefulness, or whatever, our first reaction should be to put God’s will first in our lives.
We are to take up our crosses. Our cross could be rejection from our family, co-workers, or neighbors. It could be needing to endure a health issue, financial issue, or some other issue requiring a stronger faith in the Lord. Whatever troubles ( crosses ) become a part of our lives, we are to not complain — but rather, trusting in God to carry us through, we are to gladly bear with it all, knowing that God will work all things for our good in the end, whatever that needs to be in God’s will.
Then Jesus said we are to follow Him. We are to imitate Jesus’ faith, hope, and love while He lived on earth as a true man. He was a man who experienced loneliness, poverty, mockery, rejection, hunger, grief, temptation, and every other human imposition. He went through it all without sinning. In our weaknesses, our “following” won’t be perfect. Yet, for Jesus’ sake, we are to accept our Lord’s help and continue following.
All of this — because we have nothing to be ashamed of.
There is no sense in being ashamed of the God who created all things and then, in an outpouring of love, paid for all our sins on the cross. Rather, Jesus is our joy, and we find completion in serving Him and looking forward to His coming “in His glory”. Then, we say, “Hallelujah! Lord Jesus, thank You for being with us every step of the way!”
Love,
Margaret
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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods
This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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