“For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s,” Romans 14:7, 8.
This is good to know when facing an operation with a risk of death, which is what I’m doing on August 20th at 8 a.m. The risk is not great; it’s the same as all other operations when one is put to sleep during the procedure. There’s always a risk of death. Even so, to hear the doctor tell you that you’re going to be at risk for death is a little unsettling.
But, thanks to Jesus, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord, and He will never forsake us. For this reason Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the living and the dead. So it makes no difference whether we live or die, for we belong to the Lord of the living and the dead.
Considering the price He paid for us, that is, His body, His blood and His life, we owe it to Him to give Him our full allegiance, and deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him, regardless of the cost to us. If for no other reason you follow Jesus, do so because of the price He paid for you.
The Christian life is not all rah rah and hallelujah; there are many trials and tribulations along the narrow way. And to this we were called, that we might learn discipline and, thereby, obedience, as it says, “He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness,” and, “Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed,” Hebrews 12:10b-12. “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments,” 2 John 1:6a.
Let us submit to our Lord in all things, from the greatest to the least, from the best to the worst, and from life to death, for He deserves nothing less.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 