S163P4 – The mind of Christ: offering everything
Jn. 12:23-26
Jesus answered [Philip and Andrew], saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”
There are many things in life that we can call our own, and some are more valuable than others. The concept of ownership has a great impact on how we live our lives and the goals we set for ourselves. There are those whose life’s work is just to own land. There are others whose ambition is to own much more. Of all the things we can own or call ours, none is more personal or critical than our lives. People seek autonomy and the freedom to direct their lives as they please, and to lose one’s life means that everything ends. At least that is what the world would have us think. If we believe that, then it makes sense for us to guard our lives with ferver, but Jesus instead tells us to give our lives.
Those who are part of the world cannot understand how it would gain us anything to die. The biblical truth that tells us to live is Christ and to die is gain confounds them. [Phi. 1:21] While the world sees death as an ending, we see death as a beginning. It does not mean that our lives now do not matter, but it does mean that what happens here is just a flash in the pan compared to the life that awaits us from death through eternity. The crux of this kind of mentality is the understanding that our short years here are not the entirety of life. This is not all there is. In fact, this life is a great proving ground, and our responsibility is to complete the work God has for us during this time. To give our lives as sacrificially as Jesus did is not just about dying but about how we live until then.
To sacrifice our lives for Christ is two-fold. The first step is to live these lives with a kingdom purpose that satisfies the Father. It is about adhering to his will and setting aside our desires. The second step is willingly relinquishing this life however God has planned for us in order to glorify him. For some, that will mean persecution leading to martyrdom. For others, death will be more peaceful, but both are expected to give up this life gladly when God calls. We must remember that life here is temporary and merely the beginning of a greater life to come. Father, remind us of the purpose of our lives here and the reward for gladly giving them up for your glory.