Aug. 17, 2011
Mark 8:36
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?"
"and" not "but" was used here by Jesus, revealing that gaining the whole world will result in losing one's soul. This isn't the hypothetical situation where He suggests following Him, and then perhaps gaining life. This is the real deal. Jesus desires that we give our everything to Him. And he warns that if we do not there is no profit, and a guarantee of a lost soul. Now, this wasn't a threat, but a promise. He tells us this, so that we can be forewarned of the lack of reward gained by seeking after the things of this world. Following earnestly after Him is an easy task, loving our Father who loves us and desires to fill us with blessings. But at the same time, it's difficult: putting our selfish wants aside so we can clearly see the will of God. The verse, "what did you have that you did not receive from me" has been floating through my head all night, and morning. God asks what we have to gain, that we deserve. And that is a convicting thought, for we had nothing, until He gave us life. In this way, gaining the whole word is despising the very one who gave us life, and everything we could possibly want, in order to receive something that will, then, ruin our souls. God doesn't call us to follow Him, because we "have" to, but we "get" to because He has made that possible, and through Him, we have all of the profit of a fulfilled and eternal life.
I need to not have expectations of what I deserve. I cannot do anything alone, but only through "Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13), so I therefore need to put my wants aside, so I do not seek to gain the world, but solely to live for Christ, in my actions, deeds, and desires.
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