Matthew 16 -- The Two Choices In How We Live

In verse 24, Jesus said, “If people want to follow Me, they must give up the things they want.  They must be willing even to give up their lives to follow Me.”

 

My commentary used what He said here to show the two approaches to life that Jesus presented to His disciples:

 

Deny yourself                                                                    Live for yourself

Take up your cross                                                          Ignore the cross

Follow Christ                                                                      Follow the world

Lose your life for His sake                                             Save your life for your own sake

Forsake the world                                                           Gain the world

Keep your soul                                                                  Lose your soul

Share His reward and glory                                          Lose His reward and glory

 

It’s not difficult to see that the world’s view is selfish and prideful and goes against everything God as said in all of Scripture.  Christ’s view instead throws out selfishness and self-centeredness.  “It is in what man denies himself that truly makes him a man,” I tell my sons often.  In this case, we see that it’s only in giving up what the world says is living that we truly begin to live as God originally intended.

 

Father, when I’m tempted to live by the ways of this world, shout loudly and remind me that I am not OF this world.  I am not my own.  I was bought at an unimaginable price, and I am Yours.  Help me to act like it.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford