Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget thine agony,
Lest I forget thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.
It’s only through the cross that we have life. Only because Jesus lived and died for us! He gave His every breath, His every word and deed for us. His every step, His every thought, every miracle and teaching was for us! When he ate it was for us, when he drank it was for us! He does not live for possessions, He does not live for wealth, He does not live for health!!! He died for us!!! He rose for us!!! He lives for me!!! He lives for us!!! Everything Jesus Christ, the son of God, did was for us!!! EVERYTHING!!! What do we give?
He expects and deserves no less from us!!! He commands EVERY PART OF US!!!
Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
It’s all or nothing. We either lose our lives for His sake, deny our earthly pleasures and live our lives to seek Him only, and in so doing find life abundant!! Glorious, all satisfying, joyous life!! or… We don’t, we enjoy this life here on earth, comfortable, achieving success, knowledge, acceptance… and miss the mark and die in our own self-righteousness.
Luke 9
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Luke 14
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Learning With Lovell 
I like the way you described the “all for us” character of God. Helps me to want to be all for him.
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Me too. How lovely it would be for Him if we would give all for Jesus. By His own grace, His own mercy and by His own truth and spirit may we please Him.
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Hi Matthew,
I loved your emphasis that we have to take up our cross DAILY. I think often we forget this, and we can be trapped by thinking that life should be smooth sailing. A common misconception that many have about Christians; that we are in some way immune to life’s hardships or struggles, when in fact we will have more abuse heaped on us for our faithfulness to Christ, which is an honour!
It brings to mind the many examples in Old Testament where God uses trials and tribulations to bring his servants to their knees to humbly seek Him and accept that they cannot do anything in their own strength. I believe that God often calls people to Christ through tribulation as we (humankind) are so stubborn and arrogant (sinners) that we need to be broken down to our lowest to be raised up in Christ.
I will continue to take up my cross DAILY and seek Christ’s perfect love and strength to see me through.
I pray we will all follow His example.
Blessings,
Gina
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