Tag Archives: Matthew 16:24-26

Redemption Or Rehearsal??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #194

06 Wednesday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Contentedness, Contentment, Follow Jesus, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Greed, Green pastures, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, I will lift up mine eyes, Inspiring Others, Prayer, Prayer or Panic?, Preach Christ and HIM crucified!, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption or Rehearsal?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Reflecting HIS glory

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Redemption Or Rehearsal??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #194

 

We live in a culture of “rehearsal”, in my opinion!  What do I mean?  Well, people are practicing to be someone else, to get to somewhere else, to work up to some other level of accomplishment, to be the fastest, the prettiest (and these days that is a totally subjective thing), the richest, the best, the most popular, the one with the most toys, awards, money, media presence, time in the spotlight, and of course most are working to get to heaven.  So, people rehearse for the role they have chosen.  I miss the days when you could just be “you” and take the ups with the downs; a day when friends loved you with or without the warts; a day when truth was more important than illusion, or facade, or performance, or “imitation anything”.  Jesus calls us to follow HIM, not the world, no matter the call of the glitter or the glamour.

One of the things that Jesus repeated over and over was and is the call to “follow me”; what followed may have varied, from person to person, but the call was to “follow” Jesus; so let’s consider a few of those calls.

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren,

Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother,

casting a net into the sea:

for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them,

Follow me,

and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And

they straightway left their nets,

and followed him.  

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren,

James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother,

in a ship with Zebedee their father,

mending their nets;

and he called them.

22 And

they immediately left the ship and their father,

and followed him.”  Matthew 4:18-22

“And he that taketh not his cross,

and followeth after me,

is not worthy of me.”  Matthew 10:38

“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.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

In “Blanche’s Paraphrase”, you can’t rehearse your way into heaven!  There is only “One Way” to heaven and His name is Jesus; and only when we answer His call to salvation can we truly have abundant life, clear direction, and eternal life.  You can never make your own way, or rehearse to “be” good enough, rich enough, powerful enough, or successful enough to make your way into the “heaven awards”!

Paul has a lot to say about following Jesus as well.  Oh, that I had learned to follow HIM more closely and not been caught up in the rehearsal of the world!  How about you?  Have you been distracted from following Jesus by the world’s glitter—it’s a lie and not truth.  We must draw close to our Lord and Savior to know truth, seeking HIM in HIS WORD!  Help us Jesus, to hear your voice and draw nearer to You!

“Be ye followers of me,

even as I also am of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 11:1

Paul gave a great word of encouragement and challenge to his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy, from which we can learn a lot, if we will but take heed and examine ourselves rightly.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world,

and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment

let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich

fall into temptation and a snare,

and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,

which drown men

in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money

is the root of all evil:

 which while some coveted after,

they have erred from the faith,

and pierced themselves through

with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God,

flee these things;

and follow after

righteousness,

godliness,

faith,

love,

patience,

meekness.”  1 Timothy 6:6-11

Contentment is almost a lost virtue, will we learn to be content rather than greedy (and yes, we all are afflicted with the ‘greedy bug’ from time to time—an affliction that we need to recognize and avoid); are we truly pursuing “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness”?

What are we praying for?  Are we focused on wealth more than holiness; focused on greed more than righteousness; has our heart been side-tracked by the world?  Jesus’ simple model prayer can be a great help, may we seek Him and His ways—following our Lord.  And if you don’t know Him, you can come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith in HIS substitutionary (in your place), atoning (making payment for a debt) sacrifice (the very payment with HIS own blood at Calvary).  If you hear His voice don’t turn Him away!

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father

which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is

the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever. Amen.”  Matthew 6:9-13

May our hearts be totally devoted to HIM who redeemed us with His own blood; rehearsal may work for a “performance”, but it won’t bring you eternal life—only Jesus can do that.  Won’t you come to Him today?  If you are HIS, won’t your draw near to Him who loves you and gave Himself for YOU?  May we live like we are part of the Redeemed of The Lord.

“And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons judgeth

according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,” 1 Peter 1:17-20

Praise to our Redeemer—forever and ever!  He’s coming for us soon!

“And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book,

and to open the seals thereof:

for thou wast slain,

and hast redeemed us

to God by thy blood out of every

kindred,

and tongue,

and people,

and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:

and we shall reign on the earth.”  Revelation 5:9-10

Amen and Amen!!!

Worldliness Looks Like___??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #193

03 Sunday Mar 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, Looking Unto Jesus, Looking up Or around?, Love, What does worldliness look like?, Worldliness

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Worldliness Looks Like___??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #193

What does worldliness look like?  It can be hard to define sometimes because we have made the lines often hard to define; yet, as believers we have one specific instruction to order our steps by, and while it’s a lengthy passage, I think it one that we must consider if we want to walk pleasing to our Lord, and not after the things of this world (a world that will pass away)!

“But if ye bite and devour one another,

take heed that ye be not consumed

one of another.

16 This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,

and the Spirit against the flesh:

and these are contrary

the one to the other:

so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit,

ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:15-25

To “live in the Spirit” starts with “the Spirit”, The Holy Spirit, living in me; as well as knowing God’s Word–His standard, and Paul’s description of the contrast between the “works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit” is a concrete list of the difference.  The “fruit of the Spirit “ is one of the evidences that we belong to Jesus (and notice there is no “s” in “fruit”!).

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:8-9

Our life is a testament of our spiritual heritage, either we belong to Jesus, or we don’t; and the new covenant of the indwelling Holy Spirit is the evidence of the “new birth” into the family of God, by the power of The Holy Spirit.

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

It’s the new birth that Jesus told Nicodemus about in John chapter 3.  Just as Jesus told Nicodemus, if we are not “born again” we can neither see the Kingdom, nor enter it!  And if we are “born again” it will be evidenced by the presence and work of The Holy Spirit, a work that should be a witness to the world we are to be separate from.  As I see the problem, we have been led to go astray from our true north—both our Lord Jesus and His Word.  Like the old adage says, “The Word of God will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from The Word of God!”, which have you chosen.  Have you been born again?  Are you walking in The Spirit or the flesh?  The Apostle John has something to say about that.

“Love not the world,

neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world,

the lust of the flesh,

and the lust of the eyes,

and the pride of life,

is not of the Father,

but is of the world.

17 And the world passeth away,

and the lust thereof:

but he that doeth the will of God

abideth for ever.”  1 John 2:15-17

James is even more clear in his assessment of our choices in our behavior.  Will we heed his message?

“From whence come wars and fightings among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.”  James 4:1-8

Jesus makes the ultimate statement for what it means to become His follower and claim Him as our Lord and Savior; it’s not just “saying so”—it’s having a life transformed by the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin”!  Have you been cleansed from sin?  Have you come to the fountain “filled with blood”?  Have you faced your own sin, denied yourself, taken up the cross of Jesus and followed The Lord and Savior of all who will come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith/belief in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin?

“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.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

And the final thing I want us to consider is Jesus’ own words declaring that “saying so doesn’t make it so”; and there is a day coming when the masks will come off and “every knee shall bow”!

“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits

ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:19-23

And in closing, one of my favorite stories that Jesus painted, yet we so often write it off to an insignificant children’s song, rather than a picture of absolute truth.  Is your house built on The Rock?  I pray that you will walk in Jesus’ Holy Spirit and not the world and the flesh.  And notice it’s implied that the houses looked like, but when the storms came—and they will come—the foundation made the difference.  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,

I will liken him unto a wise man,

which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell not:

for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine,

and doeth them not,

shall be likened unto a foolish man,

which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended,

and the floods came,

and the winds blew,

and beat upon that house;

and it fell:

and great was the fall of it.”  Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus saves—have you come to Him for salvation and forgiveness of sin?  He’s still in the life-changing business!

Amen and Amen!!!

Where Do Our Footprints Lead?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #46

30 Sunday Oct 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Footprints

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Where Do Our Footprints Lead?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #46

“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.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

When we choose to follow Jesus, it is amazing to realize that when we follow HIM, we never know who will be following us.  Sometimes those closest to us, sometimes those we don’t even realize are watching from afar, sometimes from those we least expect to be watching our walk with Jesus.  Our footprints are leading someone either to God or away from HIM!  Choose wisely, there is a test!

The key is to recognize the call upon our lives—the call of Jesus to deny self, to take up HIS cross, and to follow HIM, in all our ways.  Death to self means I give up my will for HIS.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine

is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever.

Amen.”  Matthew 6:9-13

 Jesus tells us that our heart’s prayer is to be “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done…”; we are to pursue the will of God in all we do, in all we pray, in every opportunity of influence, not just to win or prove something, but to serve as Jesus calls us to, with HIS glory in mind, relying on HIS power, grace and love.

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Peter gives us one of the most profound insights into our calling and I hope it will be as encouraging to you as it is to me.

“For what glory is it,

if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well,

and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:20-24

Jesus trusted Himself to His Father, and so can we, for God IS, “him that judgeth righteously”, and we can trust to His care in all things. We have been healed from the penalty of sin—which is death—by the power of HIS blood!  Yet, remember, Jesus told us we would suffer as HE did, but glory is to come when we walk with Him.  I am so grateful that Jesus loves me and has been so faithful to me for so many years.  He will be faithful to you if you will but walk with HIM!

“Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him;

for he careth for you.

8 Be sober,

be vigilant;

because your adversary the devil,

as a roaring lion,

walketh about,

seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast

in the faith,

knowing that the same afflictions

are accomplished in your brethren

that are in the world.”  1 Peter 5:6-9

We share His life, for HE is our hope in glory!  Resist the enemy, by standing IN Jesus and HIS Word!  I hope this brief word is a help to you today, for we all leave footprints, and someone is almost always following in our steps!!! Blessings on you and yours!

Amen and Amen!!!

What Is Living, To Me??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 26

15 Sunday May 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Living in Christ, Living In My Season

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 26   What Is Living, To Me???

“According to my earnest expectation

and my hope,

that in nothing I shall be ashamed,

but that with all boldness, as always,

so now also Christ shall be magnified

in my body,

whether it be by life,

or by death.

21 For to me

to live is Christ,

and to die is gain.”  Philippians 1:21

We are called to live by faith, knowing that our faith is in Jesus, not in our own abilities.  It is so easy to build ourselves up in our own minds, forgetting that it is Jesus who is “my strength, and my Redeemer”, not myself, my works, or my “self” esteem! (As the Psalmist calls it, “presumptuous sins”!). Rather it is my confidence in my Lord Jesus, and our Father God Almighty, and the work of HIS Holy Spirit at work in me.  To God be the glory—not me!

“Keep back thy servant also

from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me:

then shall I be upright,

and I shall be innocent

from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth,

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O LORD,

my strength,

and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:13-14

While we live in a presumptuous world, we must keep our hearts and minds humbled before God, it is the only way to live.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:10

“Likewise, ye younger,

submit yourselves unto the elder.

Yea, all of you

be subject one to another,

and be clothed with humility:

for God resisteth the proud,

and giveth grace to the humble.

6 Humble yourselves therefore

under the mighty hand of God,

that he may exalt you

in due time:

7 Casting all your care

upon him;

for he careth for you.”  1 Peter 5:5-7

As God reminds us in the letter to the Hebrews:

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

And while this article is a bit brief (for me), it leads us to the truth of how we can live in the power of Jesus; one passage from Jesus Himself, and the other a commentary, if you would, from the Apostle Paul, which gives me great encouragement, and I pray that it will lift you up today as well.

“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.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

And Paul’s message that answers our question and tells us how to “live” IN Jesus!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

Who’s influencing your life? Jesus or the world?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test:

“And, behold, I come quickly;

and my reward is with me,

to give every man

according as his work shall be.”  Rev. 22:12

Amen and Amen!!!

Walking–By Faith Or By Sight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! Bible Ballistics

11 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Cross, Faith, Faithful, Faithful Follower, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Take Up YOUR Cross, Walking by Faith or Sight?, Walking With Jesus

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A Word from THE WORD!!! #6 Walking– By Faith Or By Sight???

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God

unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed

from faith

to faith:

as it is written,

The just

shall live by faith.”  Romans 1:16-17

How are we to walk by faith?  By the power of the “new birth” that God works in those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our sin—mine and yours—and being made a “new creation” inChrist Jesus!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold, all things

are become new.”  2 Corinthians 5:17

But how is this worked in us?  By the power of the Holy Spirit, and the coming of The Lord Jesus Christ to live a sinless life, being The Lamb of God, who had come to die for our sin.

“That was the true Light,

which lighteth every man

that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:12-13

As John the Baptizer said:

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,

and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said,

After me cometh a man

which is preferred before me:

for he was before me.”   John 1:29-30

Because of what Jesus did, I can walk by faith—faith in The One who loved me and you, and gave Himself for me/you, that we could live IN HIS power, as I/you die to ‘my’ flesh and live unto ‘my’ LORD Jesus!

“I am crucified with Christ:

 nevertheless I live;

 yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

So, how are you “living”?  By your own wiles, efforts, and schemes, or by the power of Jesus?  Have you been “born again” by the Spirit of God, or are you still walking in your own sin, your own way, with the consequences that accompany that choice?  It is your choice but choose wisely there is a test!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus unto good works,

 which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.”  Ephesians 2:8-10

And in closing, the definition of faith from the author of Hebrews:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report

….6 But without faith

 it is impossible to please him:

for he that cometh to God

must believe that he is,

and that he is a rewarder of them

that diligently seek him.”   Portions of Hebrews 11:1-6

So, who are you seeking?  How are you walking?  By faith?  Or by sight? Are you walking with a “cross” simply hanging around your neck, or have you taken up your “cross” to follow Jesus?

“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.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

Amen and Amen!!!  May Jesus speak to your heart today!