Let Him Have You

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

—Matthew 16:25 (NLT)

 

 

This Christmas what is the most necessary thing in your life? Is there something you hold on to afraid that you will lose, or, perhaps, a relationship you believe is paramount? If you try to hang on to your life, Jesus said, you will lose it. If a relationship or what you possess is more important than your relationship with God, you will lose intimacy with Him. Your understanding of who you are in Christ will fall away. You will lose your life to what you desire instead of having a cherished bond with your Savior.

 

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be,” Jesus also said. What do you treasure? If it is a person, then your longings about that relationship are foremost in your mind. If it is something you want, then the yearning for ownership outweighs anything else. Whatever your treasure becomes the desire of your heart. If you hang on to what you crave instead of what the Lord wishes, you lose the revelation adventure of living in Christ. But if your treasure is your relationship with God in Jesus Christ, then the real desire of your heart is what the Holy Spirit reveals to you.

 

When you give up your life for His sake, you save it. Giving up your life for Him is all about priorities. Jesus put you first when He died on the Cross for the forgiveness of your sins—your healing—your provision—your total restoration. You were then and still are His number-one priority. Is He yours, or do other relationships or wants or things get in the way? If you hang on to them, you lose. If you give up, you find. These paradoxes are real in Christ. Letting go and allowing God to lead your life, promises intimacy with Him. Putting Christ first will save you from the ultimate bitterness of a self-focused life.

 

Peace and joy are tangible when you have a divine revelation of how much Jesus treasures you. Your desire to cherish Him springs from your understanding of what He has done for you on Calvary. Learn who He says you are. Know what it means to be His. You are the desire of His heart. He longs to be the desire of yours. Jesus was your gift of Christmas. Let him have you.

 

©2020 Lynn Lacher

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