Do you treasure your life more than God? (By Musings of a Pilgrim)
"Because Your loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You." Ps. 63:3 (NASB).
Life is a glorious and wonderful gift. It is the most precious thing we each possess. Even if we were the richest and most powerful person on this earth, if we have no life - what use is it? So, what can be better than life itself? In today's psalm, we ponder upon the loving kindness of God. What does this mean?
This word can also be translated as favour or mercy. David is telling us that the value of the favour and friendship of God is way beyond anything this world has to offer. If we put on the scales our life on one side and the favour of God on the other, for us Christians, it should always tip towards God's mercy and favour.
In fact, this was the secret of the "success" of all the Christians that lived before us. Remember in Rev. 12, which speaks of the devil in his fiery rage coming against the people of God? And yet, in v. 12 we see "they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIFE even when faced with death."
When we are able to let go of our life (figuratively and literally if needed), we have positioned ourself to serve God wholeheartedly. There is no longer anything, in this world, that would hold us back. There is nothing more "powerful" and "dangerous" than a person who has no more regard for their own life.
But of course, this does not mean Christians are "dangerous" people for our weapons are not the weapons of this world - power and might. But we follow the banner of our Saviour which is love. He calls us to sacrifice our lives for one another, to serve one another, out of reverence for Christ. We are to love our neighbours, and even love our enemies. Imagine such a life lived out today! And when the enemy comes, they bold proclaim, "to live is Christ and to die is gain!". What can the enemy do to such a person? For when they die, thousands more behind them rise up as they see the testimony of the person who did not fear death.
So what does this mean for you? Do you value God's favour more than your very own life? We can say that we love God more than anything else in this world but your life-decisions will betray where your answer truly lies. I am not saying this to shame you or pour guilt on you but to help encourage you to go deeper into God. For when you TRULY taste the GOODNESS of God, your appetites for the things of this world will gradually fade.
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