What do We Give up for Christ?
In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
This verse implies we give up everything that hinders our service to the Lord which is anything that displeases the Lord. As we mature in Christ, we give up sinful ways and our priority moves toward serving the Lord. This occurs as our hearts change and we find the things of God are more appealing than things of the world.
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:29-30) Our desire for worldly things decreases as our relationship with Christ increases. This naturally happens because Christ is all fulfilling and He pulls us away from the world and into His kingdom.
The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here! or See there! For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21 NKJV) When our soul is one with the Spirit, we are living in the Kingdom. The more our thoughts are on serving the Lord and bringing lost souls to Christ, the more we are in the Kingdom. The more love we have in our hearts, the closer we are to Christ, the more we are in the Kingdom, and the less appealing are things of this world. Having a close loving relationship with Christ is better than anything the world can offer, making it desirable to give up everything to be His disciple
We really don’t give up anything that is not replaced by something hundred times better – Christ. If you love me, keep my commands. (John 14:15) If we keep the Lord’s commands by following the Spirit, He will lead us into His kingdom where blessings are better than any blessing from the world. Living in the Kingdom, close to the Lord, changes our hearts to focus on the spiritual world and away from the physical world. We live to minister to the physical world, but our souls live in the spiritual world.
Today, serve the Lord and seek his divine blessings from Heaven. Fill your soul with His love, peace, and joy and reflect His blessings to others.
Prayer: Lord, fill my soul with your blessings that I can reflect to the world. Continue to pull me into your Kingdom where I can be close to you. In Jesus name, Amen