Living Life for Christ Alone

"Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Whosoever will save his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." I have been studying this passage for the past week or so, and one thing that I didn't notice at first glance completely changed my perspective on the verse when I finally saw it. It is found in a phrase that occurs twice: "Whosoever will." Both times, "whosoever will" in the Greek means, whoever wants to  or purposes to.  It's not enough!  "Whosoever will come after me..." In our American church, it's easy to become introspective and look for a  desire in yourself to come after Jesus. You might be asked, "do you want  to live for Jesus?" and you say "Yes." Somehow that answer is enough, and we need not worry further as to our spiritual state.

"Christ is all; and in all." (Colossians 3:11) Christian... Don't look for identity in what you do or who people say you are. Christ has made you a child of God! Don't seek protection in people you have in your life. Christ has made God to be your Protector in every situation. Don't look for acceptance from friends or people you respect. Christ has made you acceptable to God. Don't search for fulfillment in friendships. Christ has already said that you are His friend, and who could be a better friend than Jesus? Leave off the search for love in a boyfriend or girlfriend. Christ has made you complete in Himself! Never give in to the idea that you are as secure as the people and friends make you to be. Christ has given you eternal security in Himself! Don't seek to ease the guilt that comes when you fail by running to temporary pleasures! Christ has forgiven you once for all! You are washed in the blood and that never will need to be repeate...

Trust God... When the way is rough, trust Him. When your world is falling apart, trust Him. When all forsake you, trust Him. When you lose the ones you love, trust Him. When you're hurt by those closest to you, trust Him. When life is confusing, trust Him. When life's trials seem to overwhelm you, trust Him. When storms threaten to block your view of Him, trust Him. When your next step is uncertain, trust Him. When you feel lost and confused, trust Him. When life is up or down -all the time, trust Him and only Him. He promised He will never leave you! He promised His love for you will never fail! He said He cares for you and delights in every detail of your life! He firmly holds you in His hand! He planned out your whole life before the foundations of the earth were built! He gave you every spiritual blessing, dear child of God! He calls Himself your Father and you, dear Christian, His child! He loves you with an everlasting love and His eyes are always on...

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." -Proverbs 4:23 NLT Your heart is where everything begins. The thoughts of your heart eventually become the actions you take. "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." (Proverbs 23:7 KJV) Guarding your heart means this: Keeping the door shut to the enemy, the flesh, and the devil. When their little agents knock on the door, don't answer it! Keep it bolted shut! If we let them in, they can -however small- eventually take over and ruin your life. It also means giving the reins of your heart to One who can control it from running in all directions. So easily can our hearts run to the things that appeal in the moment. But God is greater and can control that! He can, when we're tempted, remind us of truth by means of His Spirit, keeping the lies of the enemy from having effect on us.