Luke 9:23-25 -- Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?"
What do I gain if lose myself in things other than Him? I want to be absolutely lost in Him. It's His love that I adore, it's like a sea without a shore. I'm lost in Him.
When my eyes fall from focus on Him and I become consumed in other things, I gain nothing. I find myself trapped in bondage. I feel lost, confused, and alone. But the moment I seek His face, I am freed. I need only look to Him, seek Him, trust in Him.
John 8:31-36 -- Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said, "We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, 'You will be set free?' " Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."
Even though I don't see it at times, I am a slave to sin. When I allow those "little tiny" lies, doubts, fears, and temptations to add up, I'm allowing myself to enter into bondage. I take a step further from my Jesus. Everyone who sins is a slave of sin. I am a slave to my sin.
Galatians 5:1 -- Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery.
I am called to stand firm and be strong in my faith. I can't continue to allow the same temptations and struggles and youthful lusts to consume my thoughts and my heart. I am called to deny myself and follow Christ. What is the point of life if it is not spent chasing after him with all that I am, all that I have? He is enough. His grace is enough. He has set me free. What else could I possibly need?
Colossians 3:11b -- Christ is all that matters and he's living in all of us.
He will never leave me. Never abandon me. Never misunderstand me. Never let me go. Never mislead me. Never judge me. Never stop loving me. Never reject me. He will never stop being who he is. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He is love. He is grace. He is mercy. So long as He remains who He is, He remains worthy of my praise and my trust. Nothing else deserves the amount of praise and respect that He does. He is holy and mighty and worthy.
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