Jesus Christ said that whoever wanted to follow Him, must take up their cross and deny self everyday. Self-sacrifice! Hmmmm......? Have you ever wondered what that actually meant? I mean on the surface, it seems simple enough, but I believe Jesus meant for us to go a little deeper than just the surface. Tonight, the Lord revealed something to me about me. I'm very selfish and self centered. Yup, I said it, but it's not as easy as it sounds. You see, I've always loved my favorite verse, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33). This has been my life verse and I always desired to do just that, but I kept missing the mark, and the reason for this was due to my selfish nature. God has a funny way of getting my attention. Tonight, my wife and I decided to play a video for my daughter, Sophie Grace, to see if she would enjoy it. The video we selected was non other than veggie tales about St. Nicholas. Instead of Sophie Grace sitting down and watching it, I was the one that was drawn into it. Ok, I couldn't help it - it was cute. Anyway, the story was about St. Nicholas and his humble beginnings, but he was driven by his desire to give to others based on the example of Jesus Christ himself. Jesus gave of himself and laid his life down for us so that we could have everlasting life with Him in heaven. He laid down his life for us! For me! And for what reason? Because He loved me! This is what He meant by denying self. Sacrificial love! Jesus gave everything he had, even his life for my sake. And this is what he is asking that we love in that way. That our love for each other have a purpose. That we love like He loved. Tonight, I realized that I have not been living my life like He asked of me. I have been living a lie. This year, my wife and I decided to finally get serious about living a life that is debt free and we agreed that we each would not get each other anniversary and or christmas gifts. And deep down inside, I know that this is what is best for us, but deeper still, I wanted to still give her a gift and in return hope that she would still consider giving me one. I started thinking of all the things that I so wanted to give my wife. I want to give her the world, because I love her so much and I just want to make her happy and proud of me. But I have to grow up and I have to accept the fact that by getting us out of dept - would be the best way to show her how much I love her. To be dept free would give her a sense of peace, freedom, and security - and what other way is there to show her how much I love her. Second to be a true follower of Christ, I need to live like Christ and give like Christ - sacrificially, with a joyful heart. And how better to be able to help others with what I have been given than to be able to do it because I'm dept free. I have a lot to think about and pray about. Not only has God told me what I need to do to be a follower of his, but He has shown me when He willing laid down his life on that cross.
I pray dear Father, that you will forgive me for being selfish and placing my desires and needs before you and before those that I love. Help me to get to that point in my life where its not about me, but about you and about others. In Jesus name - AMEN!
