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.
Matthew 16:24-25 KJV
When a person enlists in the army, there are certain physical, aptitude and moral standards that they must meet for each military base. A person enlisting for the army will not walk into the base with multiple tongue and face piercings. They also will pay attention to what they eat during the days leading to their assessment as well as during their time in the military if they are to survive in the army. 2 Timothy 2:4 says, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier”. Consecration is necessary for us to be able to attain to the fulness of life and it is our response to the God’s call.
Titus 2:11-13 tells us that the grace of God brings salvation to us and it also teaches us how to progress in our walk with God towards the fulness of Christ which grace will bring us into. This progression includes a cost, which is denying ungodliness and worldly lust, while living soberly and righteously in this present world. In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus also listed the cost or discipline for all who would enlist in His army as His disciples. Note that this is a choice for the individual, hence Jesus said “If any man will follow me”. It is not a must that a man enter into the fullness of all God has for him and indeed, many would choose not to. However, a life of consecration is required of us as a response if we are to grow into His fulness. How do we practically live a life of consecration to prove we want to go all the way to be like Him?
This meditation explains seven aspects of living a consecrated life, one of which is Self denial. This speaks of denial of the world and its lusts. 1 John 2:15-17 tells us to draw away from the world and calls us to separate ourselves from anything that will hold us back from moving on in this race.The world here is not the physical earth we live in. In John 17:15, Jesus prayed that we should not be taken from the world, but be shielded from the evil one. The world is the anti-god system governed by the devil, who is its god. It is characterized by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Sin that was in us was destroyed on the cross, therefore the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life in the world is not in us, Galatians 5:24. This does not however, remove us from temptations and the tendency to act like those in the world out of ignorance. We live in this world, but we are from a world to come, wherein dwells righteousness, peace and Joy, Romans 14:17.
A believer who is still worldly, even though he is saved, hasn’t seen the kingdom of God. The moment a person understands the beauties in the Kingdom of God, his natural response is to enlist in this Kingdom and give up anything that will make him fall short of it. This includes certain legitimate things that are not sin in themselves but could still cause stumbling blocks or weights that slow down our pace (1Corinthians 6:12). A person who has his eyes on the Kingdom wants to please God always in His choices, time, relationships and in every area of his life. He becomes a yes man to God. God has chosen us and called us near to Him, and what He requires of us is to respond to him and do that which will please Him. Beloved, what thing is so precious to you, that you cannot lay down for the Kingdom? If there is such a thing, you have not seen the coming Kingdom. Pray that your eyes be open to see the God who you confess to love!
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, thank you for your call on my life. Father I pray that You may give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You: The eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of Your calling, and what the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints. Father, let the Kingdom be instilled in my heart and let my eyes be open to see the God, I confess to love in Jesus name. Amen
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