KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 12:25 KJV” He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

Our key scripture is God’s paradox to men. It says if a man loves to preserve himself in this world and would not let God have His way in his affairs, that man would lose his life. On the flip side, if a man hates his life, such that he throws his interest away and chooses God’s interest, that person would rather save his life. This may look like a paradox, yet it is not, but the most logical truth that one can employ. In Rev 12:11, the bible lists three things that those who overcame the devil employ Rev 12:11 KJV And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. The last of the three, was the fact that they loved not their lives even unto death. This means these people were prepared to even lose their lives, for the course and for the name of God.; they saved their lives from Satan. The Bible said, by taking such a stance, they overcame the devil. What would have happened, if they had loved their lives and were not prepared to lose it for the course of God? Satan would have overcome them.

Remember Eve who loved to be like God and so ate of the forbidden fruit. She and her husband who took it died. Gen 3:1-20

One aspect of our walk and relating with God is to walk by faith. Faith on most occasions is very ridiculous and unreasonable. It is very natural and humanly safe to be reasonable about various issues in life. When a man chooses to love himself by being reasonable, he or she cannot walk by faith. Faith counts on the unseen word of God to relate with seen and tangible issues. Those who dare to hate themselves to walk by faith, win all the times. Heb 11:2 KJV For by it (faith) the elders obtained a good report. The Lord says we should not walk by our own understanding, but in all our ways, let his way lead us. Prov 3:5,6

The Christian life is unpleasant to many because they have not chosen to go by the principle of hating themselves to save their lives. Many homes are on fire because they would not put aside the love for themselves and not put Christ first. The Lord said, husbands should love their wives, and wives submit to their husbands. This is God’s unconditional command for the couple. It is not dependent on whether the man loves the wife, she must submit to him. The husband must also love the wife, whether she is submissive or not to obey this, is to love the Lord and put aside your ego. People who accept to live by this would save their marriage, and would have a happier life, than those who love themselves, and so would not obey it.

CONFESSION

I obey the word of God, by hating myself to love God. The very things that are gain to me, I count them as dung, so that I may please Jesus. I place my trust in Him against the odds of dangers, and I always come out as the winner.

FURTHER STUDIES

Phi 3:8 KJV” Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

Act 15:26 KJV” Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”