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Matthew 16:21-28 [Focus Passage vv. 24-26] (NRSV)
21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." 23But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
24Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Thoughts
Oswald Chambers wrote: God wants to bring you into union with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. … “let him deny himself…”—deny his independent right to himself. Then the real life—the spiritual life—is allowed opportunity to grow. (My Utmost for His Highest)
Giving up your right to yourself, or denying yourself, is not a life of mere passivity. Surrender to Union with God is an active process, which we make repeatedly, daily, situation-to-situation. Nor are we to see our personal self a hindrance to Union with God. God does not seek obliteration of the self. Rather, our surrender is of Individual Consciousness separate from Union with God, or Christ Consciousness. Also, we surrender Collective Consciousness, wherein we identify with groups, like family, religion, nation, … to Union with God.
As we are preparing for Advent, Matthew 16.21ff gives us the first announcement in Matthew of the Passion. Living Advent means entering the paradox at the heart of the Good News. In giving up my life, I only lose a life of separateness. In giving up my life, I find that I have not lost anything I most deeply want to keep.
Prayer
Lord, I want to enjoy Union with you, surrendering myself moment-to-moment, in every situation, to your wisdom, care, and grace. Restore to me, daily, the joy of your salvation. Amen.
OneLife Ministries is a pastoral outreach and nurture ministry of the First United Methodist Church, Fort Meade, FL. For Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Counseling, spiritual formation workshops, Christian meditation retreats, or more information about OneLife, write Rev. Dr. Brian K. Wilcox at briankwilcox@comcast.net.
Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union, can be ordered through major bookdealers.
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
The People of the
United Methodist Church
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