“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25
This deals with the relationship between worship and the blessings of God.
The goal of Christ is to remove every deception alive in your heart, mind and soul about God. Jesus has to do this with a sharp sword piercing into your heart.
God is looking for your loyalty for who He is. This loyalty cannot be based on blessings from Him. The blessings will give you a false sense of security in God. They will undermine your motives in knowing Christ.
God has to deeply hurt you to show you what is really important in your life. At times, He will remove His goodness and protection from your life and replace it with deprivation and suffering.
This is designed to cause you to evaluate what is most important in your life. What are the real treasures in your heart? God wants to be in the center of your life even when you are surrounded by darkness, insecurity and desperation.
The spiritual man acknowledges the greatness and glory of God even when he is living in a state of poverty and God refuses to answer His prayers.
The purpose of the deep hurt is to draw you to Jesus without any conditions. The blessings of God should not figure into your relationship with Him. You value God for who He is and not for what He can do for you.
This is a hard lesson to learn but the outcome will give you a new perspective on Christ. You will be free to do the work of God operating with the pure motives of Christ Jesus!
Hal Hollister Ministry 