Notice that Jesus is very specific about hanging on to our own lives. We can’t be the same people we were before we accepted Jesus. We must learn and grow to be like Him in all we do. It has to be 100%; it can’t be just what we want to give up. If we try and hold on to some of our selfish desires we will lose and it will always be a struggle for us. We need to open God’s word and learn to lay down our lives for Him, and understand we will always be growing and learning to resemble Christ.
Verse 36 goes on to say, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?
I can’t imagine anything being worth eternal separation from God, but without growing and reading everyday the world is easy to get caught up in. Things feel good and are quick fixes to our problems, but in the long run they are causing damage.
Verse 37 asks; “Is anything worth more than your soul?
I think we really need to ask ourselves; do I really believe what I am reading? If we do then why aren’t we actually doing what it says and trying our hardest to follow Christ and live fully devoted? It is such a farce to continually say we love Jesus and not want to make any changes in our lives. Our strength comes from giving it to God and fully using Christ to get through the tuff moments. We need to use what we learn from God’s word as our guide and begin living for Christ not for ourselves.
When you read this next verse really pray to understand how important it is to not hold on to your life.
Verse 38says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”
Work to make Him proud and forget this world and its pleasures. Amen