Classic!

We come to the final post on Following Jesus. And this time we switch gears just a bit. We know that Jesus, as God’s Son, as the Messiah (Christ), is worth following. But are we worthy of following Him?

Jesus explains that we are by discussing our value to Him and to ourselves. He asks, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own psyche? Or what will a man give in exchange for his psyche?” “Psyche?” you ask. “Scott,” you say with concern, “my version says ‘life,’ or ‘soul.’ And Luke 9:25 says ‘What will a man give in exchange for himself.’  Nowhere does it say ‘psyche.'”

Well, actually, it does say psyche.  The Greek word “psuche” (translated life / soul) is the word we get psyche from. Jesus is rhetorically asking what is worth giving up your entire being and person – your psyche – for? The answer is obvious. Why would I exchange who I am for the passing pleasures of this world? Nothing is more valuable to me than, well, me.

And, truth be told, nothing is of greater value to God. After He made us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Add to that the observation made by Solomon that we (our psyche) will continue after our body dies and decays (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

We can grasp the eternal value of our soul when we understand that God gave His ALL for us. “. . .knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1Peter 1:18-19).

That being the case, why do we often sell ourselves short? Why do we sell out to popularity? Why sould we sell ourselves for wealth that we cannot take to the grave? Why do we spend som much time, effort andmoney on our material possessions which are all the rave today and passe tomorrow?

You are worth so much more than the things of this life!

– Scott