Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-25, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their lifewill lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (NIV).

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes (most of the time) have a hard time denying myself.  I’m usually pre-occupied with what I want and what I need to do to “save my life” or “control my life.”  By trying to save my own life I am really hindering my dependency on Christ.

In the mini-series “Band of Brothers,” which is based on first-hand accounts of members in the 101st Airborne Division during WWII, there is a scene where a Soldier named Private Albert Blithe is having a conversation with 2LT Ronald Speirs.

Blithe said “Sir, when I landed on D-Day, I found myself in a ditch all by myself. I fell asleep. I think it was... it was the air sickness pills they gave us. When I woke up I really didn't try to find my unit... to fight. I just... I just kinda stayed put.”

The lieutenant asked him why he hid in the ditch to which Private Blithe responded, “I was scared,” Lieutenant Spears then says, “We're all scared. You hid in that ditch because you think there's still hope. But Blithe, the only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier's supposed to function. Without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends on it.”

Although this is a grim reminder of the realities of war, I think as Christians, we can glean a simple but profound truth.  What Lieutenant Spears was saying is essentially what Christ was saying about being a disciple.  “Who wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

As Christians, we must know that we have died to ourselves and that our lives are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3), once we can accept that, it is soooo much easier to live for Christ.  It keeps us from living for ourselves and keeps us from trying to save ourselves at every given moment when adversity comes our way. It’s when we accept that we are already dead to self, that we can be freed to fully live for Christ.  It’s when we let go and let God take over, that our life is found in Christ.  What must you do today in order to die more to self and live for Christ?

-Pastor Jeremy