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win / win situation

Things are not the same between the way we think and the way God thinks.  Success in the world's eyes is far different from what God says is success.  Let me share with you a couple of things that have been rattling in my head for the past 12 hours or so:

quote (not sure where it originated) --- 99% obedience is 100% disobedience

Matthew 16:25 NLT
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Luke 9:23
Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me."

Following Jesus is always right and never easy.  In fact, following often means denying me to follow Him.  Notice within the quote and the scriptures above that obeying God comes with a cost, and at times, that cost is high.  How can that be a win / win situation?

We win at that point because we find more purpose than we have ever had before plus we are investing what will last forever.

God also wins because His plan becomes the priority.  Others win because God continues to change lives.

If we step back and answer the question of whose agenda are we working off of, we might be shocked.  Far too often we think we are doing what God calls us to do when we have twisted it all to be on our time and by our agenda.  As the quote says, when we don't fully obey God, we are not fully following Him.  

Everyone wins when God is at the center, and everyone wins when we are in hot pursuit of Jesus.  That is a win / win situation!

Luke 9:57 NLT
As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Comments

Jeff Schicke said…
"Hot pursuit." I like that. Reminds me that apathy has no place in the Christian life. Be blessed.
January 17, 2011 at 3:43:00 PM EST
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