“He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my father honour”. – John 12: 25-26
It takes a complete surrender to the Lordship of Christ for you to have dominion over sin, which is dominant in the flesh. While the battle for the life of man is in the soul the flesh is a major instrument of war of the adversary. The desire of the flesh runs contrary to that of the spirit. What is it for a man to love his life? It means spending all the time allocated to you on earth in pursuit of satisfying the flesh, which involves the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. It means pursuing your wellbeing at the exclusion of others. It means been mindful of the flesh at the expense of the spirit. It involves self-centeredness, self-glorification,an arrogant and a proud heart. Colossians 3:5(KJV) admonishes us to mortify our members which are upon the earth namely:- fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness. All these reside in the flesh and when killed releases the spirit of man to serve the living God.
From the passage above we are meant to know that following Christ is service. As we follow Jesus we do it with the consciousness that we have died with Christ and resurrected into a newness of life. A dead man does not entertain fear, cannot be hurt, cannot be offended and does not feel insulted. Jesus said if any man serve me him will my father honour. Imagine the man God honour’s. Facing whatever challenges in serving Christ as stated in Hebrew 11:36-37 Änd others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stones, they were sawn asunder, tempted, were slain with the sword: they wondered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;” This is what it means to hate one’s life as vividly stated in Rev. 12:11b “……and they loved not their lives unto the death”. How ready are you to face life challenges that will come as a result of your following Jesus. Are you ready to serve Him unto death? What is the value you place on your life and service to God? Are you ready to forgo the comfort of this world to live a hallowed life in Christ Jesus?
Prayer: Father grant me the grace to follow and serve you even unto death. In Jesus name.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo