God has been asking me to write about this for a couple of weeks now, but I wasn’t sure if I knew how to put such a big topic into one blog. But I asked Him to help me, so here’s me giving it a try.
What God has encouraged me to write about is putting Jesus before the world in our lives.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” -Matthew 16: 24-25
This verse shows that the Lord wants us to fully give our lives to Him. This doesn’t mean you have to drop everything and become a pastor, missionary, youth leader, etc. (God wants people in all types of careers). This means that He wants us to put all our trust in Him and allow Him to be the director of our lives. The verse also says that we must lay down our own life for Jesus and that by doing this, we will actually truly find what our purpose here on earth is. If we choose to continue to live from our own desires, and only go to God when we want something or when it’s convenient, then we won’t really find what Jesus has called us to do. We won’t know the love and joy that comes from knowing Jesus intimately.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew 6: 19-21
Referring to the verse above in Matthew 6, it’s not bad to have treasures on earth, but the point is that they’re not nearly as important as the treasures we are storing up in heaven. Our time here on earth is only a split second compared to eternity that we will spend in heaven. So why put so much focus on material items, position, success, etc. while we’re on earth when these things are just going to pass away? They won’t matter in heaven. God cares about what your heart looks like and your heart is what God will be looking at on judgment day. In the last part of this verse, Matthew says where your treasure is, is also where your heart will be. God knows if our hearts are for Him or for ourselves.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24
Before I truly came to know Jesus, I had one foot in the world and one foot standing with Jesus. I lived my own way not giving much thought at all to the way God has called us to live (which by the way is for our own good). I would pray, I was a “good” person, and sometimes I would even go to church, but that’s not what God wants from us. Jesus desires for us to put our full trust in Him and let Him lead our lives. He created us for amazing purposes and HE’s the one who can make us live those out. Not us. When we try to run our own lives, things can get shakey. I mean look at the world today. It’s not the “norm” in today’s society to be all in for Jesus, but God knows that’s what ultimately is by far the best for us. He’s a GOOD, GOOD Father who loves us soooooo much.
“He must become greater; I must become less.” -John 3:30
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“This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.” – 1 Corinthians 25
This last verse seems very counter-cultural. I grew up thinking everything was about my dreams and my goals. But it’s not. When we make Jesus greater in our lives, He will create even better dreams for us that we could have never came up with on our own. Let Jesus increase in your life, and let yourself decrease.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20
The verse above describes how I feel now that I’ve fully given my life to Christ. His love is like no other. It can not compare to any other type of love in the world. If you haven’t experienced Jesus in this way, I encourage you to ask Him to change your heart. Tell Him that you want to experience Him on a deeper level and I know He’ll be right there ready to answer those prayers. Just remember, the way He answers might not be in the way you’re expecting. He’s a God who works in creative ways so keep your eyes and ears open!
