Profit

Can you "lose your soul" even though you find "salvation?" Is it possible to "pray the prayer" understand and accept Jesus' redemptive work on the cross and coming to life again and miss out on life, on what is the soul of the message of that cross and this life? Can you pray that prayer and mean it with all that you are, but not become a "Christ follower?" Is it possible that you do not follow the way, the lifestyle, of Christ the Master? (read the previous post)

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Mark 8:34-37

What a lifestyle to live - one of self sacrifice! Jesus says here that this is the way, "my way." Attempting to do things on your own, make sure that your life runs as you think it should, worrying about every single detail of your life - this kind of self help is no help at all. We can worry about getting and keeping everything we want, but we will not find ourselves. This kind of living is not living the way of Jesus, it is not the lifestyle that Jesus taught.

We find ourselves by giving our lives away! Remember Jesus teaching that the one who loses his life finds it? This is the meaning of that - do not place yourself first, do not give way to anger when someone comes to you with anger, do not attempt to always assert your rights, allow kindness, caring, and love to rule your every action. What do you profit and find by doing this? We profit a peace beyond understanding, we find eternal life that already exist because we are no longer attached to the things of this world, but ruled by the spirit of God. We find that these are the things that are eternal and spiritual and that will last for all of eternity- love, peace, patience, gentleness, caring, kindness - this is the way of Jesus and the way to find eternal life, not only somewhere in the future, but now. So what will it profit you if you gain the whole world - even salvation - yet lose your soul?

Namaste'