THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 9:21-27
“Whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24)
Jesus is not asking us to choose death, but to choose Him!
To choose Jesus is to choose everything He stands for.
Life, goodness, justice, mercy, love, joy, peace, etc.
Not just for ourselves, but for everyone!
Following Jesus is like Mother Theresa following compassion.
Or like Martin Luther King Jr. pursuing justice and racial equality.
They did not choose suffering or death, but their choice led to them.
Jesus urges us to stand up for justice, mercy, compassion, etc. with Him.
He has won the war for us, now we fight the good fight with Him.
Is my only motivation for Jesus my own forgiveness and eternal life?
Then I have not understood Jesus, Who lived and died for all!
His cross was a cross for others, not for Himself; our cross is the same.
Do I care for those who suffer, who struggle, who need help or love?
Jesus is calling me to get off the couch, and into the battle: follow Him!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, forgive us for turning the cross into a personal perk, rather than a passionate calling, a life worth living! Help me to live for You, even if that means difficulty… or death!