To Die For

What about our Christian faith? Is it "to die for"? Is following Jesus something we strongly desire and put at the forefront of our lives?

"To die for" Christ, we must die to ourselves. God's will is to be first in our lives, not ours (Matthew 7:21). Jesus taught we are to deny ourselves and follow Him (Luke 9:23). Paul proclaimed, "For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's (Romans 14:8). Our thoughts and actions are to bring honor and glory to God, not ourselves. Our order of priority is: God, others, self.

"To die for" Christ, we must die to sin. Romans chapter 6 goes into great detail about this stating: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it" (Romans 6:1,2)? We are not to continue in, dabble in, or continue in sin. As Christians, we are to "walk in the newness of life" (Romans 6:4b).

"To die for" Christ means we must die in the Lord. Revelation 14:13 teaches, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' Yes, says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them". We are to stay faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10). No matter how well we start off, if we do not finish our Christian walk with Jesus, we are lost. Just like in a race, you must abide by the rules and finish the course. So it is with Christianity. We have to stay strong and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and the prize that awaits (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Dear friends, I urge us to "die for Christ". Let us make the necessary adjustments and to seek God first and foremost.

Let us determine to run the race set before us and stay faithful to the end. We will never regret it.

Stay true to the Word,

Brother Travis