SELF DEDICATION

Newsletter 285 March 4, 2012
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Mark 8:34-38
King James Version (KJV)

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

(Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:27)

Jesus requires of his disciples, complete dedication and he lists the two basic requirements here. They may seem excessive to a would-be Christian, but the reward is great. He offers eternity in exchange for probably less than a hundred years. Secondly that eternity is in his Father’s home which is wonderful beyond description. He does not offer this as a guest. He offers it as an adopted child of God and co-heir with himself! (Revelation 21:10-22:6)
The following verse reveals those two requirements, and not everyone is willing to fulfill them.
First, we give up what we might gain in this world for what we know is in the next. It may be wealth, power, fame or it might be poverty, weakness or obscurity. We can’t know what “might” be, but we can be sure of what God promises, for He keeps His promises, and He loves us all. (John 3:16) Like the Apostle Paul, who had a “thorn in the flesh,” we too have weaknesses in the flesh, which God will use to show what he can do with little. Like the tiny fish of which Jesus fed the multitudes, then had them gather the scraps left over. There was far more left than there was at the start. Had the rich young ruler given up what he had, (wealth), He would have ended up for richer and for time without end. As a young lad, I read of the work of Livingstone in Africa, never dreaming that I would one day be used to preach in some of the same communities that he preached to in Africa. I later lost my heart to Africa much as he did and was a guest at Moffat Mission established by his father-in-law. I was an extremely shy child, but have since preached to congregations that overflowed the buildings. God still performs miracles.

I recall a Chinese funeral where I arrived none too early and ended up as a result at the tail end of an enormous string of cars to the cemetery. I remember well, because, in my haste, I neglected to turn off my car lights and ended up with a flat battery. We may be weakness manifested, but God still has a task for us.

The second is that we must “take up our cross and follow Him.” God promises problems in this life, but they are nothing compared to the rewards if we endure them joyfully. I think of this every time that I get up to preach when my lower back is agonizing, but without failure the pain departs, until I sit down again afterwards. The privilege of sharing the Word, far outweighs the pain. The problems of this world will be forgotten in the glory of the next.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

How many people concentrate on what they might have attained here. They concentrate on what they have “lost,” forgetting to look ahead. I try to look ahead to see what lies, “just around the corner.” This world is already lost and we will leave all behind. The Chinese may toss tissue wrapped coins into the grave and the Egyptians might have buried his property in a buried ship, but stay in the grave until some grave robber helps himself.

(Matthew 10:39, Luke 17:33, John 12:25)

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
This world offers only material things, transient things. What truly matters are Spiritual things. Even if one were to have all the world offers at the cost of the Spiritual, lose his own soul” he has lost in the end. What he has lost is without price.

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Every generation from Adam on to the present is properly described as “this adulterous and sinful generation.” Let us stand out in the generation in which we live as being different. No matter where in the world, sin has dominated, the Spiritual is going to be in sharp contrast. Last Friday as those inside, three separate activities were going on in various parts of the church home where I am a part of the church, the police asked that the doors be locked as an armed man was in the parking lot and they feared he might enter the building. In the end, he left his car, pointed his gun at the SWAT Team police and in effect forced them to shoot to kill. He lost his life, and no one really knows why. Clearly this world was not enough. Heaven will be gun free, and there will be no need for locked doors there!
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

(Matthew 10:33, Luke 9:26, Hebrews 11:16, Matthew 8:20)

The answer to this world’s problems was, still is, and always will be Jesus Christ. The world has no answers, not bombs, not armies, not robot planes. When Christ comes again these things will all be useless.
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2012

MARCH

4th. Sunday – Leviticus 9, 10, Mark 12:18-44, Psalm 30:8-12
5th. Monday – Leviticus 11, 12, Mark 13:1-20, Proverbs 6:20-29
6th. Tuesday - Leviticus 13, Mark 13:21-37, Psalm 31:1-8
7th. Wednesday - Leviticus 14, Mark 14:1-21, Psalm 31:9-18
8th. Thursday - Leviticus 15, 16, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 31:19-24
9th. Friday – Leviticus 17, 18, Mark 14:53-72, Proverbs 6:30-35
10th. Saturday - Leviticus 19, 20, Mark 15:1-24, Psalm 32

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.” – Mark 9:37

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