A Demand Of Discipleship

                                         2 Corinthians 8:21
                            "Providing for honest things, not only
                                     in the sight of the Lord, but 
                                        also in the sight of men"

         A demand of discipleship is self-sacrifice;  Our Lord placing Christ and His interests above ourselves (Mark 8:34-36).  This consists of denying ourselves the wrongful seizure of royal sovereignty; (ie)  the usurpation of sin and giving ourselves to Christ's management of our lives.  Self-sacrifice is not popular, for it is costly.  Yet it is something which we cannot afford to leave undone.
        Our Lord taught that to save one's life for one's self is to lose it as an investment for eternity.  On the other hand, to give up one's life to Christ and His interests is to save it, for He will return it with eternal dividends.  We should learn to treasure self-sacrifice and make it's commitment, for it brings blessings to others and to ourselves.
        Throughout his ministry Paul was always mindful of the temporal needs of the poor believers in Jerusalem.  We as Christians cannot very well call ourselves Christians if we can not abide by what (2 Corinthians 8:21) has laid out for us.  The kind of self-sacrifice which pleases the Lord is motivated and energized by divine grace.  First we must give our-self to the Lord, then give to others according to God's will.  God has shown me, and  I'm sure you as well; that His grace can motivate and enable us to do things which we believe are impossible or which we are not willing to do.     Amen!!!

                                        May God Bless You
                                         And Your Families

                                                       Minister: Robert A. Lail
                                                       The Cross Life Ministry