How Important is Your Soul?

N.T.#196 "How Important is Your Soul?"

Dec. 4, 2023

Matthew 16-Part 12

LET IT GLOW

Actions speak louder than words. What we do is who we are. Words mean nothing if we don't do what we say we will do. It's easy to say we love, but showing it proves it. Jesus was teaching His disciples, and us, how to live.

A Christian is a person who has accepted a challenge of Jesus' calling to deny self-own selfish ambitions, our own selfish sinful pleasures-and take up our cross. (Billy Graham)

If we are willing to lose pleasures and comforts of life, even lay down our own life for Christ, then we will find, obtain, get it. We will be willing to obey the Master of Life. Is Jesus asking us to give or sacrifice our time, energy, possessions, pride, and whatever stands in our way of serving Him with all our heart, in order for someone to walk closer to Jesus or find Him as Savior? 

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (verse 26)

In the Greek language, profited means to benefit; be useful; exchange refers to an equivalent or ransom; instead. 

So we can have the highest social or civic honors, or salary, and it not be useful to us if we don't have heaven for our eternal home with Jesus. We have nothing to give instead of our soul. Jesus doesn't want our things, He wants our soul. He loves us so much that He was willing to give Himself in our place of punishment for our sins so we would not go to hell. That is a sacrifice! What love! Nothing compares to it. There is nothing of any earthly value to compare to a person's soul. 

LET IT GROW

Here is our challenge, friend. Is Jesus requiring we give of ourself in order to love the unlovely one? How can Jesus show them love through us? What about the one that has hurt us, can we turn the other cheek and show them love?

With Christmas season upon us, let's pray for God to use us in an unexpected way, giving Him an extravagant gift of love by giving to others.

LET IT GO

Help us let go of ourself, pride, selfishness, and give to others.

Thank You Jesus for giving us love when were were unlovely.