Dying to Self & Living For Christ

A devotion by Vince Lichlyter based on the Jonah33 song

Track #1: "THIS IS IT (YOU INSTEAD OF ME)"

 
What "defining moments" have you experienced in your life? Scoring the winning goal. Flunking the final exam. Finding your "soul-mate." Totaling your car. Watching your parents divorce. One day, every one of us will look back and point to key moments—both good and bad--where we can say, "This is it...this made ALL the difference."
  
A little over 2000 years ago, God radically intervened in the destiny of mankind when He sent His one and only Son to live, die, and rise again for our sins. During the final three years of His earthly ministry, Jesus mentored a crew of twelve messed-up, self-centered, hardheaded followers who would go on to live--and die--for Him. All of these guys had defining moments of their own. Jesus looked each of them squarely in the eye and said, "Come, follow me." They left the comfort of home, the security of jobs, and the familiarity of friends to put Jesus first.
  
Before I met Christ, I had my own defining moments. First, there was the time when my dad caught my teenage friends and I smoking dope at our "band" rehearsal. Not long after that, there was the moment where I left home rather than submit to my parents’ authority. Then, there was one bad choice after another that caused me to spend my teenage years living on the streets of Seattle, doing and dealing drugs, eventually one finger flinch away from pulling the trigger of the gun I had put in my mouth. "This is it," I was thinking.
  
But Jesus had other plans for this messed-up, self-centered, hardheaded punk. Over the course of the next few weeks, He looked me squarely in the heart and said, "Come, follow me." I did. What other hope did I have? That was my defining moment. Years later, I look back –delivered from addiction, blessed with a godly wife, amazed by our beautiful son—and know that all He has given me is all I will ever need.
  
Now just like those first disciples, I’m part of a long line of believers who willingly leave the comfort of home, the security of job, and the familiarity of friends to put Jesus first. A lot of people think it’s a dream come true to stand up on stage, play in a band, and sing for Christ...and it is. But if it’s all about me, it’s all for nothing. It has to be all about Jesus. Period. Jesus’ invitation is pretty hard-core:
 
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?" Matthew 16: 24-26a (NIV)
 
Today’s prayer: Jesus, I confess that I live for myself. I repent of my self-centeredness and pride. From this moment on, let me live for You instead of me. I know it won’t be easy, so help me run the race. Let me live a life of service and sacrifice, so that the world can see that I’m grateful for what You’ve done for me. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me. Amen