AND ANYONE WHO DOES NOT TAKE HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME. WHOEVER FINDS HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, AND WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE WILL FIND IT
(Matthew 10:38-39).
There was a time when I followed the OLD MAN in me, ruled by the father-of-lies, to receive comfort from the world. I obeyed the negative, destructive OLD MAN beliefs “You are unworthy, You are unwanted, You are unacceptable, You are unloved,” to receive accolades from others. I allowed the deceitful desires of my sinful nature to rule my life, in order to receive praise from people. To me it was all about what people thought of me—how to impress them the most, so I could receive their honor.
IF ANYONE SERVES ME, LET HIM FOLLOW ME; AND WHERE I AM, THERE MY SERVANT WILL BE ALSO. IF ANYONE SERVES ME, HIM MY FATHER WILL HONOR
(John 12:26).
Precious One, if you are living your life to receive honor and praise from people, you are living your life according to the OLD MAN beliefs of abandonment, rejection, shame, and condemnation. You are doing your deeds, good and bad, for the wrong reasons: to relieve the pain these OLD MAN beliefs are causing you. You are not living for Me.
Today, I am asking you to come to Me. Stop living your life for accolades, comfort, and honor from people to relieve your OLD MAN pain. I have a cross for you to bear. If you take up your cross and follow Me, My Father will honor you, but if you keep practicing your own righteousness in front of others, only to be seen by them, you are not worthy of Me. You will have no reward from your Father in Heaven.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO PRACTICE YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN FRONT OF OTHERS TO BE SEEN BY THEM. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL HAVE NO REWARD FROM YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
(Matthew 6:1).
Are you living your life to still the OLD MAN pain of abandonment, shame, rejection, and condemnation…or are you bearing the cross the Lord Jesus has given you? What is the difference? The OLD MAN lives in you, in obedience to the father-of-lies, to receive praise from people. The Lord Jesus lives in you, in obedience to God, to receive praise from the Father in Heaven.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, make me willing to follow You. Show me the cross You want me to bear—the good works you have preordained for me, since the foundation of the world. May I be willing to lose my praise-seeking life for You, Lord Jesus, and receive my reward from the Perfect Father.
Maintain an Awareness
Thus, the OLD MAN became the origin of sin that causes the effect of sin in each of us. The OLD MAN is where it all started and where it all ends…unless we are delivered from it.