Commit to Memory:  …“I die daily…” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

The secret of living a life that pleases God is death. Jesus said if a seed doesn’t die it can’t have life in itself and so for anyone who must follow Jesus all the way the issue of death must be your concern. Death to self; me, mine, I, my etc must die and be buried so that God will be glorified in and through our lives. The New international version puts it this way: “I face death everyday”.

 Is there an assignment that God has committed to you but because of pride and your social status you say, no- this assignment is too small. I need and must start big and great and guess what heaven is watching and waiting to see your reaction and saying “Don’t fail me and allow my investment in you be wasted else I take away the lamp stand.” Is God speaking to you as you read this; make up your mind to obey and go do those things the Lord has instructed you to do. Those places he said you should go- Go there, the things he said you should do- start doing them. Look away from popular opinion and please God. If you and I do this, then we would have crucified self which is an enemy to godliness. See the statement of Jesus in Luke 9:23 ESV

.. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

The cross was a torture tool introduced by the Romans to terrorize and molest those who would speak against Caesar. The cross was a public humiliation that represented death. The cross is a symbol of death every believer must taste to live the abundant life in godliness. So, when Jesus said that in order to follow Him we must carry our cross, He meant that something must die before we can live. We must die to ourselves, our will, our opinions, our rights, our flesh, our ambitions, our passion and our desire to have things go our own way. You must die daily to self in its entirety and watch your life impact many and make God proud. Hallelujah.

Reflection: The path to the throne and crown is the cross, the secret to abundant life is death; there is no short cut…

Prayer Lines:

•Father, I want to gain Christ at all cost, help me to die daily.

•Father, open my eyes that I may see myself the way I really am.