Mat 16:24-26 ESV - Hard to Believe (book excerpt)
I especially like the quote in purple.
Mat 16:24-26 ESV
(24) Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(25) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
(26) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?
Excerpt from Hard To Believe by John MacArthur:
Christianity, in the hands of some seeker-sensitive church leaders, has become a "get what you want" rather than a "give up everything" movement. These leaders have prostituted the divine intention of the gospel. They have replaced the glory of God with the satisfaction of man. They have traded the concept of abandoning our lives to the honor of Christ for Christ honoring us. As such, our submission to His will is replaced by His submission to our will. Since people usually
reject the real gospel, modern evangelicals have simply changed the message.
A Saint of many centuries ago got it right with this prayer: Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to posses everyting, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive. Let me find thy light in my darkness, thy joy in my sorrow, thy grace in my sin, thy riches in my poverty, thy glory in my valley, thy life in my death.
Thy life in my death"? That's the true gospel. Jesus said it unmistakably and inescapably, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matt. 16:24-25). It's not about exalting me, it's about slaying me. It's the death of self. You win by losing, you live by dying. And that is the heart message of the gospel. That is the essence of discipleship.
________________________
Pray with me.... Saviour Jesus, may you give me the courage to face my sinfulness and repent (turn from my sin) of my sin. To follow you no matter how hard it is. To live a life that has at it's core; being conformed to the likeness of You. Lord, may we understand that following hard after you does mean trusting you by your grace to help us do what you want in every aspect of your lives. Thank You for coming to earth as a baby and dying to pay the debt we owed for the sins we have committed.
Amen
Ps. Click on the book photo above to read the first 6 pages.
Follow hard after HIM!!
Reed
Mat 16:24-26 ESV
(24) Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
(25) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
(26) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?
Excerpt from Hard To Believe by John MacArthur:
Christianity, in the hands of some seeker-sensitive church leaders, has become a "get what you want" rather than a "give up everything" movement. These leaders have prostituted the divine intention of the gospel. They have replaced the glory of God with the satisfaction of man. They have traded the concept of abandoning our lives to the honor of Christ for Christ honoring us. As such, our submission to His will is replaced by His submission to our will. Since people usually
reject the real gospel, modern evangelicals have simply changed the message.A Saint of many centuries ago got it right with this prayer: Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to posses everyting, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive. Let me find thy light in my darkness, thy joy in my sorrow, thy grace in my sin, thy riches in my poverty, thy glory in my valley, thy life in my death.
Thy life in my death"? That's the true gospel. Jesus said it unmistakably and inescapably, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matt. 16:24-25). It's not about exalting me, it's about slaying me. It's the death of self. You win by losing, you live by dying. And that is the heart message of the gospel. That is the essence of discipleship.
________________________
Pray with me.... Saviour Jesus, may you give me the courage to face my sinfulness and repent (turn from my sin) of my sin. To follow you no matter how hard it is. To live a life that has at it's core; being conformed to the likeness of You. Lord, may we understand that following hard after you does mean trusting you by your grace to help us do what you want in every aspect of your lives. Thank You for coming to earth as a baby and dying to pay the debt we owed for the sins we have committed.
Amen
Ps. Click on the book photo above to read the first 6 pages.
Follow hard after HIM!!
Reed
posted by Reed Nelson at 5/31/2006
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