Day 40 “Die To Live”

Devotional:

A powerful true story is found in the book “Leadership” by Bill Hybels.

“All he ever really wanted in life was more. He wanted more money, so he parlayed inherited wealth into a billion-dollar pile of assets. He wanted more fame, so he broke into the Hollywood scene and soon became a filmmaker and star.

He wanted more sensual pleasures, so he paid handsome sums to indulge his every sexual urge. He wanted more thrills, so he designed, built, and piloted the fastest aircraft in the world. He wanted more power, so he secretly dealt political favors so skillfully that two U.S. presidents became his pawns. All he ever wanted was more.

He was absolutely convinced that more would bring him true satisfaction. Unfortunately, history shows otherwise. He concluded his life emaciated; colorless; sunken chest; fingernails in grotesque, inches-long corkscrews; rotting, black teeth; tumors; innumerable needle marks from his drug addiction. Howard Hughes died believing the myth of more. He died a billionaire junkie, insane by all reasonable standards.”

Jesus had a whole different idea of what brings real meaning, purpose, and joy in life. In fact, it’s the opposite of what Howard Hughes thought. In vs. 35-37, Jesus said, "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?”

Live for yourself and you will die to a life of eternal value. Die to yourself and live for Jesus and His mission and you have found a life worth living and an eternity that’s been secured. But what does that really mean to “die to self?” Or as Jesus put it, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (v. 34).

To die to self, or “take up his cross,” means that it’s Jesus’ values, goals, and priorities that guide what we say and do. It’s living to advance the kingdom of God, not our own kingdom. It’s making much of His name, not our own. It’s pursuing relationships with a selfless spirit like the Savior instead of a self-absorbed one like the world teaches. It truly is a counter-cultural life we’ve been called to.

It’s worth the sacrifice because we will never sacrifice more than Jesus did. He gave His life on the cross to pay for our sins, yet He rose from the dead to give us the power over sin, Satan and death. His life brings life to us. And that’s a message the world needs to hear. That’s the hope that no amount of money, fame or pleasure could give.

Imagine if Hughes had found Jesus? The joy he could have had. The things he could have done with all that money to advance the gospel. Live your life for self and you lose it. Lose yourself for the Savior and you find it. What would it look like to lose your life, to die to yourself, for the sake of Jesus?

Prayer:

Take time reading in the gospels about the death and resurrection of Jesus. Think of ways you need to die to self in order to live for the kingdom. Ask God for the courage to do so. Take time thanking Jesus for His incredible sacrifice on our behalf.