How to Save Your Life

Scripture: Matthew 16:24-26 (NKJV)

²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Devotion:

            Today’s culture seems to be possessed with a desire to live forever. Products that supposedly can make you look younger fly off the shelves at stores. From hair coloring products to weight loss gimmicks that promise to give you that flat toned belly we are all encouraged to try. Youth sells. Pills that promise eternal youth are selling faster than tickets to the fountain of youth.

            The words of Jesus in today’s scripture are a hard sell in today’s youth driven culture. Who ever heard of such a thing? Losing one's life to save it? Picking up a cross as a way to life. Every-one knows that crosses are instruments of death and destruction and not paths to eternal life.

            Giving up one’s soul to gain the whole world sounds definitely attractive in today’s power craving society. Today’s culture has turned against the values used to support us and hold us together as one nation. What used to be considered evil and selfish are now celebrated as great goods to be pursued and desires to be worthy of emulation. It is within my lifetime that pride went from something to avoid to something to be encouraged. Along with this pride, sexual sins that were only whispered in dark corners are not celebrated on street corners everywhere.

            And where is the church of Jesus Christ in the middle of this increasing decadence. In far too many places it is seeking the approval of this deviant sexual movement. Repentance has ceased to be word used in church circles. Now we are affirming and even celebrating things that grieve the Holy Spirit of God. The church has lost most of its moral authority. Scandal, cowardice, and apathy have risen to be seen positivity and virtues to be celebrated.

            There are still places in the church where such evil is not tolerated. Our social media usually saves her most vicious attacks for these people and places. However, we must stand up and support those who take a stand for Jesus when it is not popular to do so. We need a top down and bottom-up awakening in this land. The people who have not bowed the knee to our cultural idols must be outspoken against the debauchery that has taken over our dear country. Quickly come Lord and save our land.

Prayer:

            Lord, we come before you with humble and contrite hearts. We have been too often complacent and apathetic in letting our culture degrade and demoralize us. Strengthen our weak knees and amplify our voices to stand up for Jesus in our adulterous generation. May we from now on seek to bring glory and honor to your name. Make us willing soldiers in the culture war that we see surrounding us. Amen.