HIS SAKE

Matthew 16:24-25 (KJV)
“24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
“…lose his life for my sake…” It is not until we love those we love for their sake and their sake alone that we have truly loved. Often times we choose to express self-sacrifice with the agenda of what it will give back to us in return; in this, although we sacrifice and we give, we have not lost anything.
Therefore, to lose our agenda is what it means to lose our lives. “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:22-23).
There is a huge difference between iniquity driven ministries and ministries driven by love drenched in intimacy. Our validation in ministry is not that we alone know God but that God knows us also; not that we lay claim to our gift and calling alone but that our gift and calling lays claim to us also.
The structure of ministry cannot come together until Jesus can turn to us and say as He did to Peter, “…I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18). “…the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19).
This gives reason as to why 1Corinthians 8:3 tells us this, “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” It is not until we lose our lives for “His sake” and become possessed intimately by Him that His life is in us.