Half or Whole

If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?
Luke 9:24-25 NLT

These words spoken by Jesus would confuse the daylights out of someone who was not a disciple. It's a paradox. A statement or situation that seems to be contradictory - even absurd - but is actually true. Not only is it paradoxical, it's an all-or-nothing edict. We are either going to be a complete success or fail completely. Did you notice there is no half-measure in this?

There is no half in Christ. He didn't get halfway here and then change His mind and go back. He didn't half-heal the people. He did not go halfway to Golgotha. He wasn't half-dead on the Cross. When Scripture tells us He gave His life for ours, there is not ONE mention of half. No place does it indicate that He gave half His life for ours. No buy-one-get-one-half-off. He was completely committed. He gave it all. Should He expect less from us in return?

What will we do with the life He's purchased and paid full price for? Will we hold out? Or will we be sold out completely to Him?

Prayer:

Father,
         You have freely given us everything we need to live by Your design. Let us not put a measure on it, but rather birth in us the desire and the will to give it all for You. No half-measures.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen