Matthew 16:24-27

“Then Jesus said to his disciples,

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”

I know I have been posting allot lately...it's just that I have been able to. I have been home and able to spend allot more time in the Word and alone the Lord. Time reflecting on my life and all the Lord has for me to do in and through and for Him.

Today I was belaboring a very familiar subject with the Lord and the Lord was once again showering me with His grace. This time however He directed me out of my scheduled reading for the day (Mark 3) to Matthew 16: 24-28. I will focus on just vrs 24-27 here. As I began to read this scripture, Holy Spirit began to speak directly to me. Answering my every question about the belabored issue I had brought before the throne of God this morning, again. IN fact He answered even questions I had not yet asked Him. Yet, as our Heavenly Father is so good at doing, He knew what I was about to ask before I even prayed.

Of course I cried and cried as Holy Spirit ministered to me healing deep healing. Then I prayed again.

This time a different kind of prayer. One of repentance first. Then of thanksgiving for His mercy and grace.

Then I prayed for revelation and wisdom and understanding as I was about to re-read this scripture.

I wanted to get every bit of intended spiritual nourishment from the Lord's words.

So I began to read and line by line, one at a time the Lord broke it down to me.

Holy Spirit made it clear to me that there were things in my life that were standing in the way....of me living out God's "perfect" will for my life.

Here goes.

verse 24 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Now I am sure if you are a Christ follower you have heard this verse at some point and a sermon to follow.

I know I have. However I have never heard anyone connect this verse and the reference of the cross to our idols in life, only burdens we may have and persecutions we may face.

But as I read this morning~ Matthew 16:24

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself."
then it says
"...and take up his cross and follow me."

Holy Spirit immediately brought idols to my mind.

Idols can be anything, anything that we place before God. People, place or thing.

It can be a job, even an admirable one such as reaching the lost; the ministry.

It can be a hobbie that gets outta control. A person, a loved one, a family member. Our children.

Of course the obvious ones money, and worldly objects.

Anything at all that TAKES OUR TIME AWAY FROM THE LORD.

Sitting at His feet, reading His Holy Word, ministering to Him, Getting to KNOW Him intimately.

Being Still and Knowing He Is God.

The second part of this scripture vrs 25

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Ahhhh! Wow! This is awesome!

It is the very things we inherently search for in life...that are the reasons we get caught up in our idols.

(i.e. giving so much time to them...work, dating (relationships), ministry, kids, hobbies,)

And at the same time....(this is sad if we don't change!)

the only thing that will ever satisfy what it is we are searching for....is the one thing we seem to put last on the priority list of life.

Our relationship with the Lord.

Whoever wants to save his life....save his life. Remember verse 24? Jesus said if we want to follow Him we must first deny ourselves.

This can be, and I know by experience, most times, is very hard. Paul writes his letters that he does it every day. Dieing to ones self.

As I mentioned earlier some of the things that we do or desire may not necessarily be "bad" things in and of themselves. It's all a matter of priority.

If what we love or do or are thinking about has taken up residence in our hearts, homes, or minds leaving us with less time to spend in the presence of God and in His Word then it has been elevated to status of idol.

It is important for us to remember that when Jesus returns in His Father's Glory with his angels he will reward each person according to what he has done. (vrs 27)

How are we going to even know what we are personally responsible to do, if we are too busy doing other things? Too busy to just sit before our Lord and seek His face.

Yes, I know that we are all responsible to follow the great commission. We are all responsible to love one another as He loves us. We are all responsible to do our best to love the Word of God and keep it close to our hearts and follow it as a guide in our lives keeping its laws.

Yet as well, each one of us has a special purpose that only we can fulfill.

To find out what that is...we need to get get close to the Lord ourselves. This revelation will not come by way of a third party but by way the Holy Spirit of God.

I have laid my burdens down and once again have given my joys to the Lord.
As Holy sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to God.

No more an idol stand in the way of all that the Lord has for me.

Shalom

AmyColleen