February 14, 2023 – Tuesday
Luke 9:24-27 NIV
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.
27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
Comments
It’s Valentine’s Day so I really wanted to post something that goes along with the day such as John 3:16, 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Or Romans 5:8, 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Instead I was directed to the above verses which I wrote on some ten years ago.
I think it is because the verses above speak of a love that is so infinitely greater than that usually thought of during Valentine’s Day. Don’t get me wrong, Valentine’s Day can be important between a husband and wife, but not nearly as important as the anniversary date of their marriage. Not even close, but it can indicate something positive between them nonetheless worthy of memories, smiles, hugs, and kisses.
Nonetheless, Jesus is telling us something incredibly more important in the verses above, how to have eternal life with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit. The way verse 24 begins, For whoever, tells us this is a continuation of a preceding verse and that is v23, 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. Why would Jesus say this, why do we need to take up a cross and follow Him?
The verses for today answer those questions. Because it is the only way we will ever find life, eternal life. I know it sounds odd to talk about dying to life to obtain eternal life. But we simply cannot obtain the resurrected life without first dying to this life and all in it that seeks to seduce us away from eternal life. Want riches? At what cost? Will you give up eternal riches with Christ for earthly riches that end when your life ends? Want fame? At what cost? Will you give up eternity with Christ for a fame or power that is fleeting? Want pleasure, on going pleasure via sex or drugs or alcohol? At what cost? Will you give up heaven for something that robs you of your self, more and more, until your life ends.
All of these sound extremely like lopsided deals to me, especially when you consider where you end up. Jesus wanted us to understand just how bad such choices would be when He said, 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. But for those who choose to pick up their cross and follow Him, He has the following message, 27 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” Make the right choice and see (and enter) the kingdom of God
Political correctness today seeks to make us ashamed of standing with Jesus and His words. This overlooks that when we stick with Jesus, when we eventually stand before God then Jesus will be standing with us. Today we can walk with, stand with Jesus and enjoy His power in our lives and in our families.
Bottom Line: Choose the love of Jesus this Valentine’s Day and every day. His love is eternal.
Prayer: Almighty God, We can only humbly thank You for Your love. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek