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What have you lost for Jesus?
So I was really struggling in determining a verse and a subject to prepare and my lovely wife Kristin says to me, "Well, have you taken it to God in prayer to determine his will for you in this task?" Hmmm. It is so powerful to see how God works in our lives when we do just that… taking it to Him in prayer.
This is something that I struggle with, this determining God’s will for my life because I have a tendency to be a goal setter, long range planner, schedule maker extraordinaire. Mission focused, task oriented… was I born this way or was this a result of ten years of Army life? Hooah Sir, may I have another! Hooah (pronounced /?hu????/) is a U.S. Army battle cry used by soldiers referring to or meaning anything and everything except no. In other words, a mentality of I can do it, no problem, wind me up and turn me loose.
But, I need to humble myself, die to myself, and become weak which is very difficult for me. Intuitively I want to be strong on my own. Ah, but counter-intuitively if I make myself less about me, Jesus will reveal himself in me. As Henry and Richard Blackaby state so well, "We need to resist the temptation to pursue our own goals, asking God to bless them, and instead, deny ourselves and join the activity of God as he reveals it to us."
In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the Lord says to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
I think Jesus was referring to much more than material things when he speaks of losing your life. More along the lines of giving up my will, my desires, my preferences, my wants, to follow Him wherever and whenever He calls. We are to be a servant to Him, which translates into being a servant to others.
2 Corinthians 4:11, "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." We are to continually be dying to ourselves so that we can be filled with true life.
So what holds us back? Comfort, security, control, success, etc.? But when we don’t hold back God provides adventure, faith, miracles, and deep knowledge of Jesus. Who doesn’t want these things that God provides? In my recent trip to Kenya with the Missions team I really felt in line with God’s awesome provision when I didn’t hold back. I want more of that in my life.
Gary Haugen is President of International Justice Mission, an international human rights agency that rescues victims of violence, sexual exploitation, slavery and oppression worldwide. In his book, "Just Courage", he states in regarding how far he is willing to go in his natural inclination in obeying Christ: "To be brutally honest, as far as I am safe. As far as I am in control. As far as the risks feel manageable. As far as my sphere of certain competence will take me. And consequently, in my secret and most honest moments, I sense it doesn’t take me very far at all." He really hits on many of the areas in which we need to die to ourselves.
Philippians 3:8 "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,"
When I am brutally honest with myself I can’t think of too many things I have lost for God. That probably means I haven’t lost much.
Am I there yet? I wish. Will I continue pursuing that? Absolutely because that is what Jesus said to do.
Thanks Chuck. I try to do everything on my own as well. At times, I’m really proud of how much I help God accomplish His work. But, as Oswald chambers says, “Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him.” I need to remember 1 Cor. 6:19- “you are not your own.”
Hey Chuck, as I got up and started reading your comments I noticed there was an error in pictures. I think wrong picture got added by mistake. I think we all struggle with to die for Christ with in the different areas of our lives.I can’t express the way I feel at times but you hit the nail on the head for me too. I’m military retired myself and everything in my life on a daily basis is set to be a certain way and to get those things out the way and let Christ truley take over is really hard but God is not finished with me yet and He has a purpose for me even though I’m not sure with my busy hectic life.
Right there with you, Chuck. Especiallly when I think of those in other countries, or other times in history, when Christianity was not accepted, I really question my ability to ‘lose it all’ for Jesus.
hooah.
Thanks Chuck
I am reminded by you and the word to die daily and be willing to loose all for Jesus. I do not think it is something we can figure out in our present state. Will I give up something or will I not. I am not sure today but I will ask God everyday to give me the grace when the time comes that I will say yes to Jesus. When we read of the heroes of the faith I do not think they knew before hand that they would be heroes. Those that sacrificed all did so by God’s extreme grace at the moment it was needed.
Regret belies the sacrifice. If I look back at “all I have lost for Jesus’ sake,” then I am no better off than Lot’s wife. If the sacrifice is anything more than a vague memory, compared to the incomparable gift Jesus gave me, then I need to examine my motives.
Jesus teaches that we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him. Yes we die to self, but the child of the King shouldn’t wallow in it. Jesus says that he comes to give life and give it abundantly. Look at Galatians 5: “It was for freedom that Christ set you free.” Jesus looked forward to the “joy set before Him.” So in self-denial for Jesus’ sake we gain incomparable joy, life, and freedom. I see many Christians who enjoy and remain in “brokenness” and never experience joy.
Chuck, I am so proud of all that you have become. You are a remarkable young man and one that only I, as a mom, can say how blessed I am to have you for a son. I am proud of your faith in God and all that you do for mankind. You are truly an example for many to follow.