Happy Wednesday, all! :) Continuing on this week in the “Seek the things above” Wednesdays series of posts … with thoughts on the soul this week.
Sometimes we hear fictional stories in which someone “sold their soul to the devil” … usually a red-caped pitchfork-bearing figure offering someone a legal document and haggling over price. That’s not how evil presents itself – with a “Ta da! Here I am!”. I think it would be much easier to recognize it were that way! But no, the devil doesn’t appear to us holding a pitchfork and giving us an ultimatum.
Rather, he tempts us in everyday things, when our guard is down. The Bible figuratively describes him as “prowling” (in 1 Peter 5:8), or as a “snare” (in 2 Timothy 2:26), or even in “disguise” (in 2 Corinthians 11:14). In other words: sneaky. Not announcing “Here I am, the devil! You know, the one you’re supposed to resist.” No, it’s in moments when we are not paying attention. Moments when we are not thinking, “Would I really give my soul for this?”
Jesus asked us to contemplate this question in Matthew 16 … “Then Jesus told his disciples, “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. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26 ESV)
What would I give in exchange for my soul? Is it worth giving up my soul for some “petty” vice? For some momentary pleasure from sin? For pride? For a billion dollars? How about for the whole world? When I stop and ask myself, I know the answer – no way! It’s a incomprehensible loss in any trade. But I don’t always keep that in mind. I mess up. Big time. We all do. Me, you, everyone that is old enough to understand right and wrong. I thank God that he has given us an avenue of forgiveness – that our souls don’t have to be lost forever. And when I think about the cost the God payed to save our souls – with his own life – that again reminds me of the value of my soul, of your soul, of all souls.
I read this interesting quote from C. S. Lewis about the soul, above. Of course C. S. Lewis, and all the rest of us who are not God, can be wrong about anything. So we have to compare anything a person says to the Bible (and I certainly hope you do this with anything that I say!) to see if it is true. So while I’m not saying everything he taught is true, there are many things he said that were very thought provoking, like this quote. It’s such a great reminder of who we are, and where our focus should be. And if we keep that in mind, that this body is temporary, that we are something much more – then it is easier to remember not to trade that for something wrong which our bodies want.
You can click the image above to get the printable version, to hang and be reminded of the perspective of this life. I know I need that reminder everyday.
Do you ask yourself if things are worth giving up your soul? What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below! :)
What perfect thoughts with which to begin my day! Thank you, April.
Thanks, Lori. :) It’s something I definitely want to keep in the forefront of my mind more often!
Hello April : )
I “found you” through Etsy and have been following you for a week or two. I keep wanting to stop and say Hi but keep allowing the busi-ness of my life to keep me away. Today is the day, so… Hello. : )
I have been greatly enjoying your blog and have even printed out your “Blog planner”. I have not implemented it! but it is on the list!! : )
I’m not sure I could say Amen to Mr. Lewis’ but I will ponder this today. My first thought is ~ we are created in the image of a three part God. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 shows us our three parts ~ body, soul and spirit. Our soul, like our body, is a part of the creation we are.
I can say Amen! to Joshua 24:15 and appreciate the reminder you give today to examine my choices! : )
Have a blessed day, friend.
Patti
Hi Patti!
I am so glad you stopped by to say hello! Hello to you too! :)
I do see what you’re saying about the C. S. Lewis quote. As I mentioned in the post – I certainly don’t think he’s infallible, and I’ll have to think more about this particular quote. I do think, as you mentioned, that our body is a part of how we were created. However, we will not always have this body .. in 1 Corinthians it talks of our current body as the “natural body”, “of dust” and speaks of how after the resurrection it will be a “spiritual body”, “of heaven”. I’ve taken this quote to mean not so much that the body isn’t a part of us – but that it is speaking in terms of what you will always be, which is the inward man, because the outward man decays, at it speaks of in 2 Corinthians 4:16. Our current body isn’t permanent, but our inward man is, and that will continue on after this body. But I will have to think more about whether this quote is actually saying that, or not. I took the “you have a body” to mean not so much that it isn’t a part of you at the time, but you “have” it in the sense that it is temporary, and won’t have it later. But I’ll have to think some more about it. Thank you for your thought provoking comment! :)
Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by :)
really something to think about on today… :)
thanks for the hints April!
oh, i think that’s strange you have not do any printable of the quote of Matthew that you quote today: from childhood the sentence “let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” always impress me when i heard it! ;)
Thanks, Fede! Yes, that is certainly an extremely important passage – I should definitely make a printable out of it!
A few years ago I lead a Bible study group, and we all read “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis together and looked up Bible passages either in support of or not in support of the ideas in the book about how the devil operates. It was very eye-opening. I think most people don’t give much thought to the devil at all, or even really think he is real. That can really be our downfall, if we let him sneak in unnoticed! Thanks for the reminder :)!
Oh, yes, The Screwtape Letters is *fascinating*! Of course, since its fiction and since the Bible only tells us so much about how Satan works, I don’t know how much of it is accurate – but it is definitely extremely thought provoking as far as what it takes to get us to mess up – we don’t have to go out and be murderers, we just have to get complacent or break one command … and that *is* something the Bible teaches, like in James 2:10. I agree that many people don’t even think he is real. And, of course, that’s to his benefit, unfortunately, because like you said, it can be our downfall. Anyway, thanks so much for your comment, Jess! :)