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Give to Get

    From the outside looking in, many people look at Christians for what they give up. They see them avoiding all the "fun" things of life and don't understand why. This is a huge misconception in the eyes of the world and likewise in the eyes of the Christian community. I daresay most of us do not even understand why we give up so much and resolve that it is just the "Christian" thing to do. But I want to point out that it is not about what you give up, but what you gain.

    Jesus has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. At first we are living in darkness and do not recognize what is good and what is evil. This is why He gave us His word. It shows us in black and white what is beneficial and what is harmful to us. God never intended for us to live a boring life without things that are pleasurable. In fact, He intended the opposite! But the world's idea of what is good is only pleasurable to the flesh. What Jesus calls good nourishes our Spirits.

    Do not be afraid to lay it all down for Him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. The things of the world cannot truly satisfy you. Don't think of what you are giving up in the flesh, but instead focus on the eternal satisfaction that you are gaining in Him. It is a gift that you cannot receive except through Jesus Christ. He is the only one who can give you everything you need to satisfy your soul.

Matthew 10:39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. (NIV)
Mark 8:36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (NLT)

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ESV)

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (ESV)

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