Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Keep this Life or Lose It?"

Lenten Devotion

"And Jesus answered them, 'The hour has come for the Son of
Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of
wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies,
it bears much fruit'" (John 12:23-24).

Read John 12:20-26.

Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph. The disciples were
convinced He was about to establish His throne in Jerusalem,
so Jesus had to teach them a tough lesson.

Christ Jesus stood alone, the only man whose life on this earth
was perfect and worthy of earning heaven. But unless He died on
the cross in our place He would remain alone, and we would all
perish eternally in hell. By dying in our place, taking our sins on
Himself and paying the full price God's justice demanded, Jesus
would save us all, and open wide the gates of heaven.

Our earthly life is similar in many ways. If we wish to selfishly
save our earthly life, we will lose it. But if we hate our earthly life
in comparison, longing for that better, heavenly life, we will keep
it for eternity. Thankfully, Jesus leads the way for us. He did not
love His earthly life so much that He was not willing to lay it down
on the cross. No, He was looking forward to a better, eternal life
with us-a life made possible only through His suffering, death and
resurrection.

It's a good time for us as individuals to stop and examine our
attitudes toward our lives, as well as our willingness to leave them
all behind for Jesus and the eternal life He gives.

THE PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank You for offering us eternal life through Your
Son Jesus Christ. Help us all to hate this life in this dark, sinful
world that we may keep our lives eternally in Your light. In Jesus'
Name. Amen.

Written by Rev. Wayne Palmer