The Paradoxes of Faith

 

     Death to life. As we surrender our lives to Jesus, He brings new life. His death and resurrection leads to new life for us, and as we die to ourselves, we can live through Him. What a paradox!  Here are the words of Jesus:

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Mark 8:35-36

     Have you accepted Christ? As we continue to live spiritually with Jesus, we begin to die to ourselves and our worldly desires and long to be more like Him. Dying to ourselves is a struggle, and in the book of Galatians you can read all about the battle between flesh and spirit.

     Christ gives life through death.

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him. 2 Timothy 2:11

     And life with Him is filled with everything that matters.  Death is life! Do not be envious of those who appear to have it all in this world. Jesus tells us to be in the world, not of the world. We are His and we can rejoice!

They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. John 17:15

Lord,

We long to live through You. Give us the wisdom to follow the Holy Spirit, to listen to Your voice, to follow in Your ways. With You, we can die to live.

Amen