One body, many parts

I have to admit, I struggled with this concept for quite some time. For the longest time, I clung to my individuality, saying that I could be Christian while still being myself. I've matured enough to admit that I'm wrong. So this is my attempt to keep others from making the same mistake.

Now, I will preface this blog by saying that I have by no means mastered any of this. I've acknowledged it...I'm working on it, I think. But, if nothing else, I know that this is the truth.

You must die to your self. There's no exception to the rule. Christ told His disciples that any who claim to follow him must do three things. The first of those is to deny himself (Matt. 16:24). Before you can do anything else, you must start saying no to what you want and what you think you need. Chances are you aren't right anyway. Think about the last thing you asked for. Really think about it. Did you really want whatever it was with all that it implied. Children always want to grow up, but have no idea of the responsibilities. They want a car, but have no idea about insurance. You want a life of fortune and fame. Just look at those that have it. I don't believe money is the root of evil, but it makes the road there a lot easier to take.

Face it. You don't know what's best for you in the world you've lived in your whole life. What gives you the audacity to think you know what's best for your spiritual life?

Denying one's self is just that. You stop focusing on you and start focusing on Him. When you accepted Christ into your life, the old you died. S/He no longer exists. If you act like they do, you're just living a lie and rejecting the new life that God has granted you. Harsh, but that's the truth of it all.

Now, the whole self-denying thing isn't all bad. As you cease to exist, that makes room for God to start to work in your life in ways you can't even begin to imagine. In Jeremiah, God says "For I know the plans I have for you. [...] Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart" (Jer. 29:11-13). Although many of us are not part of the original tribes, we are adopted children, and have a right to all the promises and inheritance that they will receive. If you stop worrying about you, He'll take care of it all. Hope, prosperity, a future...I can't see how there's a downside to any of that.

Although the old you is no more, the new you is even better. It's an upgrade in the best way. God handmade you to be just the way you are because there's a task for you to do. Just for you. Now, if you don't do it, I'm sure He'll find someone else. But just think about it. God needs you to do something. It's rather awe-inspiring when you think about it. Your personality, your talents, and your gifts that He gave you...none of it was coincidence or DNA or chance. You have a role to fulfill in the body of Christ. You are one of those many parts.

Paul explains it perfectly in 1 Corinthians 12. Just like the body has billions of separate parts, none of which can exist on its own, so does the Christian family have many parts which all work together.

In conclusion, you don't belong to yourself anymore. Stop acting like it. Forget about you, focus on Him, while still remembering that you have a special place in the Kingdom of God.