Losing Your Self
2009
"Whosoever will save his life shall lose it:
but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,
the same shall find it." (Luke 9:24)

Matthew Henry once wrote, "Many a man hugs himself to death, and loses his life by over-loving it." The world continually spews out its messages of self esteem and would encourage us to fight for the right to be our own person, to live to pursue and preserve our own sense of self worth, in essence to "hug ourselves." Jesus says otherwise. He tells us that the way to find life is to stop hugging ourselves and reach forth, in faith, to embrace Him. He must become our life.

We are to "deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him." But how? Where does one find the empowerment to break free from the stronghold of the flesh and go after Jesus? Many attempt a stoic self-reformation ("pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps"), and fail miserably, because this philosophy teaches us to draw upon the very source of our abiding weakness - self! One cannot expect to be delivered from self, by self.

The truth is, you must be born into Christ’s death and resurrection if you are to live as He lives, for the power by which sin holds us prisoner to our self can only be broken by the resurrection power of Christ within (Romans 6). Once our eyes are opened, to see our self in union with Him at Calvary (the power of God unto salvation), we are released from our straitjacket hold on self (that desperate, internal "hugging"), and freed to embrace our Redeemer.

"Even when we were dead in sins, (He) hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:5-6)

So the only way we can save our life is to lose it daily and eternally in Christ. We can pamper and pity self and dress it up nicely in new clothes, but our efforts to preserve it are in vain, for underneath the outward appearance is a corpse with no power to live. It is at Calvary where we find our self reborn a new creature in Christ, and learn to live by embracing the cross, which continually imparts the life-giving power of God.

"If ye be then risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
(Colossians 3:1-4)

The Elder Brother
2008
(Luke 15:11-32)


God would lavish His dear children with gifts, but so often we think we must appease Him with sacrifice and good works, while we overlook and underestimate what He has already given.
We will not take from His outstretched hand because we do not really trust Him. We trust ourselves.

The elder brother, in the parable of the prodigal son, is a sobering picture of what happens when God's children refuse to find satisfaction in what He has provided in His Son, and instead look for other ways to earn His favor. If our service to God could make us acceptable in His sight, then we would have no need for a Savior, for we would be endeavoring to save ourselves, by ourselves. Who does this glorify?

When is the last time you explored the riches that are in Christ Jesus? If you have been brought into union with Him through the saving grace of God, then all that He is became yours. "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3) Where do you go when you need what only your Heavenly Father can give? Do you get busy for Him or do you set yourself to draw upon what He has given to you in the person of His Son?

The prodigal son knew where to go, but the elder brother couldn't see what he already had. One knew the provision of His father would meet his humble need, while the other was busy looking at his own storehouse of self-provision. Which one made the Father to rejoice? The one who submitted himself to take what His father so graciously gave, knowing that he could never earn or repay such a gift.

If all you can find in God is a hard taskmaster that weighs your worth by what you can give to Him, then you have never seen Him as He is revealed in the gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ. For there you will find Him issuing forth an eternal supply that has yet to be discovered.

1996

Keep Jesus before you
Every hour of every day.
To comfort and cheer you
As you go the narrow way.

He'll satisfy your every need
You'll never be alone.
If you will make your humble heart
His everlasting throne.

Peter's Promises
2004
(Matthew 26:33-35)

"Though all men should be offended of thee, yet will I never be offended." Such brave words spoken from one who was about to fail miserably! Peter believed in himself - even while he was confessing Christ as his Lord. He thought his good motives would lead him on to victory. But Jesus knew Peter better than he knew himself. He saw through the bold words into the cowardice heart..."Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."

"Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." So valiantly spoken! But Peter not only would deny the one he professed to love more than his own life, but is seen here contradicting the very Word of God!

How often we, as Peter, speak great swelling words of devotion to our King, unaware of the deceitfulness that schemes in our own heart, waiting to betray our confession. How many times do we find ourselves, as Peter, thrown down in our faith, weak and afraid, unable to meet the challenge that God has placed before us? "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jer. 10:23)

The essence of our malady springs from a heart in condradiction with God. We can trace it back to the beginning where we believed the lie..."Ye shall not surely die...Ye shall be as gods.." (Gen. 3:4-5) We have been infected with a self-determining desire to proudly trust in ourselves.

Peter's promises, to do what he could not fulfill, leave us with a solemn reminder that our good intentions do not always culminate in the service of God. His confessions show us that it is possible to receive inspiration from God one day - "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16-17) and be inspired by satan the next - "Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee..." "Get thee behind me, satan." (vs. 22-23) Peter's love for Christ was genuine, vibrant, and well intended. But high and noble motives do not always prove a reliable guide in the Christian life.

The good news is that there is a promise which cannot fail, a word of hope standing fast as a bulwark over our ever-present weakness. It is the Word of God to Peter...and to us..."I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not... (Luke 22:31-32) The daily, faithful intercession of the Lord Himself continues to uphold us with an everlasting fortitude that cannot be overthrown. In all of our weaknesses, it is His strength which secures us in the Father's hand (John 10:29) and lifts us up repeatedly from the places where we have fallen.

To God be the glory!

1996

In the stillness of my soul,
I know my Lord is near.
I know He shares my every joy
And joins my every tear.
I know He understands
Every painful trial I bear,
Every weakness and temptation
Magnify His tender care.
I know He'll never leave me
For His Word to me is true -
"I will not leave you comfortless,
I will come to you."