by Matthew Ross
Aiden Wilson Tozer once preached a sermon called “Child of Two Worlds.” His basic point was that we are born into a fallen world and live among fallen people, but, when we are saved, we are called to live according to the principles of a higher kingdom—the kingdom of God. That calling creates tension. We naturally lean toward living according the fallen world into which we were born. Trying to live that way once we are saved is counter intuitive and often has the opposite results than we expect.
Letting go of things (especially the hurts in my life) has never come easy for me. It has never really made sense to me, either. After all, if something hurts me, why would I—or anyone—want to hold on to it? When we cling to those moments, they become part of us. Little by little, the world becomes a darker place, and your pain becomes an ever-growing mountain that you cannot seem to get around. As redeemed children of God, we are called to live according to a better standard. As Jesus says in Matthew 16:24-25, “(to His disciples) If you want to follow Me, you must deny yourself the things you think you want. You must pick up your cross and follow Me. The person who wants to save his life must lose it, and she who loses her life for Me will find it.”
Denying yourself and what you think you want or should do is the daily task of every Christian. We all were born into a fallen world and struggle with our fallen nature as we strive to live according to the better standard that God has revealed to us. This week, I encourage you to ask God to show you whatever you might be trying to hold on to. Then daily give that to God. God is asking you to let go of whatever might define you and, instead, follow him and let him define you and your life. In doing so, you will gain a treasure and a life far better than you could have ever imagined.
