Mark 8: 34-37 " If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"
The Greek word for deny is, "forget oneself and lose sight of one's interest." Surrendering to Jesus is setting aside our selfish appetites.
I think we all know that what we have on Earth is only temporary. We work like crazy to get the things we want. I know some people who worked way past retirement age just to either pay off stuff, or have more stuff. Jesus pretty much says in this scripture, that a world of pleasure, centered on possessions, position, or power is ultimately worthless. It's only temporary. It cannot be exchanged for our soul. We don't know when our last day on earth will be.
John 3:16-17, God's desire is to have more of us, now, and for all eternity. But He doesn't push Himself on us. Our desire should be to want more of Him.
The older I get, I have found that nothing satisfies like Jesus. There is always that empty hole. Trying to fill it with stuff. Or like me, an over booking of vacations when I became a widow. Trying to fill the pain of loss.
All this is good, but not if any of it comes before God being our delight, and bringing glory to His Name. There will always be that empty hole. That's just the way God works. He wants to show us that He is true joy and peace.
Psalm 107:9, and John 6:35, There is a never ending thirst that this world will never satisfy. I don't care how much you have, or where you travel. It's all meaningless if you don't have a relationship with Jesus, Ecclesiastes 1: 3-4.
For Your glory Lord
Kim D
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