Luke 9
21 Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. 22 And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Jesus Christ shows us here in the Word of God that anyone who tries to save their life will surely lose it, and whomever loses their life for His names sake and for the sake of the gospel shall surely save it. This is truly talking about salvation and the giving of oneself to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This action is a one time, "sealed and delivered" action. Once saved, always saved. But what then about the lifestyle of the Christian??? We are to constantly follow this pattern of losing our own desires and will, for that of our Father. We are called to daily pick up our cross, which is the picture of a daily death to self so that God may receive the glory for all actions done through our vessels. When we fight for our rights, we should fight for all of them including the right to die a sinners death, and go to hell. We may be quick to point out what we are owed, but let us be careful not to be hypocrites. If we want to fight in this world based on our selfish will and desires, we will also take what is owed to our sinful natures. This is why the Lord says "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you", (Luke 6:27-31). As the children of God we should show the world a difference in our actions and our speech. This takes place through the process of the Holy Spirit, but we must die to allow the Holy Spirit to move and work through us!!! Today, if you find yourself struggling, trying to fight for your rights in any venue whether it be work, family, friends, or the world, measure the worth of that thing you are trying to hold onto versus the joy and riches of eternal life. Be Encouraged!!! Have a wonderful life of dying so that others may live on purpose!!!!!
John 10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
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