Matthew the apostle wrote how, “ began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto you. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: you are an offense unto me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twenty-five of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus said, “whosoever will save his life shall lose it” where we read:
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
The verse reads, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:”. Matthew began with the word, “for” or “because, since and on account that” “whosoever” which means “whatever person whether male or female” “will save” or “keep safe, sound and rescued from danger, destruction or suffering” “his life” which means “the person's own living being, feelings, desires, affections and aversions” “shall lose it” which means “will destroy, render useless, ruin, perish and mar his life”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared whoever desires to “keep safe and sound” his or her own life will “render it useless” and “destroy” themselves.
The verse goes on to say, “and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew continues with the words, “and whosoever” which means “and whatever person whether male or female” “will lose his life” or “will destroy, render useless, ruin, perish and mar his or her own living being, feelings, desires, affections and aversions” “for my sake” or “because and on account of Jesus' cause and reason” “shall find it” which means “will discover, understand, recognize and detect their own living being, feelings, desires, affections and aversions”. Matthew shared how Jesus declared whoever will “lose” their own “desires and affections” allows them to “find” true “life”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we may think this is a little confusing, however, Jesus knew when a person loses their own life they actually find it. In other words, the cause of Jesus Christ becomes more important than their own desires. Jesus said, “Seek you first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33), and those who give up their own passions for the cause of Christ shall know what Jesus meant when He said they will “find” their own lives.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus asks, “what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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