Pam Padgett ... teacher
Matthew 5: 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Today while reading Matthew 5:29-30 I recalled again something that happened to me many years ago. I was having trouble keeping my mind under control in some area (now I don’t remember exactly what the problem was). While talking with God about this, at one point I told Him that it was so important to me to get this under control that even if it took a lobotomy (a surgical procedure for the brain), that would be ok with me. Fortunately, God had another way to help me with the problem, but I was very serious about doing whatever it took to deal with this.
Jesus told us the following about what is required to be His disciple …
Luke 14: 25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
As I read this passage of scripture today, I recalled something shared in a Bible study many years ago. One of the women told us that when she was first born again, she was told that it would cost her her life. And so it is for each of us. But which of us would choose the life we once lived and the way we were once going?
And this is a continual process, as we choose to follow what the Holy Spirit brings to our attention, allowing our lives to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. I can think of nothing I have “given up”, that I would even want today.
I’m reminded of what Paul said …
Phillipians 3: 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.