Death that Leads to Life
By Dawn Tolbert
“Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” Luke 17:33
We cannot have eternal life without dying to our old self.
Salvation is an incredible gift God offers to all of us, regardless of the depth of our sin. Through grace, we are invited into a relationship that transforms us, as Scripture says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Jesus accepts us as we are, but being a true disciple isn’t something we can do half-heartedly. It involves surrendering completely to God as Lord.
In other words, coming to Jesus involves forming a new allegiance. He becomes our Lord, our guide, our Savior, and friend.
Taking that first step of faith can be challenging. It’s hard to surrender our lives—will and dreams—to someone else, even God. But in today’s verse, Jesus warns that if we try to hold on to our lives, to maintain control, we are in danger of losing that which we’re most tightly trying to preserve. The previous verse urges us to learn from another’s mistake: “Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32).
God rescued Lot and his family from the destruction of a city named Sodom. They were fleeing the danger, almost safely away, but Lot’s wife looked back, perhaps not fully invested in her mode of salvation, and was turned to salt.
She was offered the gift of life, but her heart, it seemed, was bent on a false life that ultimately led to death.
So, what’s in your heart? What’s in mine?
Jesus will come again one day. When He does, may we all be found in Him, having forsaken our past lives with all its selfish and sinful ways and turning, completely, to Christ.
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Dawn Tolbert is a contributor to Wholly Loved Ministries Daily Devotional, a Christ-follower who writes to honor God, thank Him for His goodness, and encourage readers by sharing her faith journey. She works in higher education public relations and is writing her first novel and her first book-length Bible study. She has earned a B.A. in Communication Studies and English (Gardner-Webb College), a M.A. in Professional Writing (Kennesaw State University), and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership (Union University). She and her husband, Larry, live in Cedartown, Georgia, and serve actively in their church. Dawn blogs at dawntolbert@gmail.com.
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Originally published Thursday, 21 December 2023.
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