"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." Mark 8:35
Nobody wants to be a loser, voluntarily or involuntarily. This scripture makes it very clear that there are benefits to being a loser. In this scenario, the loser wins. This doesn't make sense in our economy of thinking but it God's economy it makes perfect sense.
Lose is the Greek word apollumi (ap-ol'-loo-mee). My thinking was shaken up when I learned is meaning. Apollumi means to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin, render useless. Jesus is telling us to render ourselves useless for His sake. We are to abolish and put to end to our life, the vital force that animates our body for Him.(psuche) The exchange for our loss is life. The life we will have will be whole and healed. (sozo)
When we make the decision to lose our life for the sake of the Kingdom of God we will be made whole. In regards to today's key verse, I don't mind be a loser. I choose to be a loser because I want to be a winner-the winner of life whole and healed.
>
Lose is the Greek word apollumi (ap-ol'-loo-mee). My thinking was shaken up when I learned is meaning. Apollumi means to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to, ruin, render useless. Jesus is telling us to render ourselves useless for His sake. We are to abolish and put to end to our life, the vital force that animates our body for Him.(psuche) The exchange for our loss is life. The life we will have will be whole and healed. (sozo)
When we make the decision to lose our life for the sake of the Kingdom of God we will be made whole. In regards to today's key verse, I don't mind be a loser. I choose to be a loser because I want to be a winner-the winner of life whole and healed.
>
6 Comments:
"Jesus is telling us to render ourselves useless for His sake." WOW.
Yesterday I completely dissolved during our pastor's sermon. I mean, COMPLETELY, tears streaming trying not to sob audibly, dissolved. I have really been struggling with losing myself for His sake. Really struggling.
So many times we hear church people say "Let go and let God..." but, boy, that letting go is really hard when you spend your days in a professional setting, giving others direction and coming home to "manage" your home & family.
I think yesterday it really hit me, the degree to which i've been trying to also manage the issues which are truly beyond my control.*
I think (and hope) my dissolution yesterday was the true beginning of me being "rendered useless" the beginning of me truly accepting God's control over EVERYTHING in my life.
Thank you, Wendy, for pointing out the benefits of being a loser.
Thank you Lord for freeing me from bitterness, and impatience and letting me know that all will be well in YOUR timing.
Amen,
Allyson
*I'm an ob/gyn with infertility,and have been waiting several months for referral for a child to adopt (and in the mean time, my stepdaughter is pregnant!).
Allyson
Your words sting me this morning, friend. My heart celebrates your break-through but aches with you in your pain.
I am in the same place of "let go and let God" with a situation. It is hard! My own words (God's words) are hard for me, too. I must render myself useless in my situation so that God can give me life to deal with the it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts today.
Giving up control is extremely hard for me; but I am learning that being controlling has its consequences, so I trust that God knows exactly what He is talking about when He tells us to let go and trust Him. I control NOTHING. Every breath and every heartbeat is a gift from God. Period.
My pondering this morning was on the first section where we read about Jesus healing the blind man in 2 stages. I wondered why the healing wasn't perfect the first time. I searched for commentary and found that this story is near the time of the disciples' wavering in their belief: after seeing the multitudes fed but then not believing in Jesus' ability to provide for them in the boat.
The disciples were "blinded" by Jesus ability...and were believing in stages...much like we do today. Perfect belief and perfect trust. How I desire these.
Morgen - MN
Wendy, your writing this morning makes me think of a couple of dear old hymns, "All to Jesus I Surrender" and "Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee." Father, I desire to lose myself for You, to You and in You.
Allyson, praying for you. My heart too is touched by what you have shared. May you know His presence very real and dear to you.
The verse the Lord spoke to my heart this morning was, “‘You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.’” Mark 8:33
A girlfriend and I recently went to see the movie "Love Happens". Without giving the plot away, at one point, self-help, motivational speaker Burke Ryan takes the participants of his workshop out on the street to stand in the middle of a busy intersection. He asks them to share all they see and hear while cars race around, honking and terrifying them. They then enter the building immediately on the corner and climb to the roof. Again, Ryan asks them to describe all they see and hear. How their answers have changed. This time, instead of the noise, chaos, fear and uncertainty, they feel a breeze, hear birds singing and marvel in the beauty they couldn't find below. They are basically in the same location, but hundreds of feet higher. Their point of view changes, because their view has changed. They have a new perspective.
How’s your vision? Human or heavenly? Physical or faith-filled? Limited or limitless?
Seeing beyond the obvious to the supernatural work of God. God is constantly at work in our lives and we need to take notice. We need to learn to recognize Him all around us “by noticing visible prints of His invisible hands.” Beth Moore
Are we caught by what we think is possible or what God says is possible. His view is higher.
Asking God to help me see the view from the top today,
Joy
Oh Wendy, I just LOVE your new bio sheet and blog page. They are so beautiful!!! Who took your photos?
They look fantastic!
Leah
A big Wow to all of you today! Wonderful insites and deep feelings shared.
Allyson, So feeling your tears and pain.
A prayer for you...
Heavenly Father, I lift your daughter Allyson up to you this moment, I pray for her to feel your presence. You know the desires of her heart. Please surround her with your loving and comforting arms. May she be at peace in knowing and trusting that you know the whole picture. May she be healed of her hurt and pain. May she hold onto the hope that after all suffering comes joy once again. In Jesus name we pray...Amen
I struggle also with completely giving up my life and letting God be in the driver's seat. (as the Msg. puts it) Why do we have such a stumbling block...I judge it's the control factor as well. I do not like roller coasters primarily because I cannot be in control of what happens as they rise n fall and be able to stop them when fear arises. So I guess it's not only wanting to be in control but also anxiety and fear of the unknown.
I judge "total trust" that God has the whole picture of our life in His hands needs to happen.
How has trust been shaped in our lives? What has led to untrust? And can we place this fragile trust in the One who truly holds us in His hands? Just some questions to think about.
Joy, I heard the call to "rise above" in your insites shared. Your insite now has been the 5th time I have heard this message loud n clear..."rise above" the stuff. Keep your eyes upon Jesus and the Kingdom to come to see us through.
Striving to be a loser...so desiring to follow Him.
I also looked up commentary on the Transfiguration. Matthew Henry's commentary mentioned it was giving the three chosen disciples, Peter, John and James, who witnessed it, a glimpse of the Kingdom to come.
Awesome and powerful...and yet fearful. Hearing the powerful voice of God...and Jesus saying, "Do not be afraid".
Love, Debbie in Illinois
Post a Comment
Home