Hello @blurt, good morning and welcome to a new day.
For Christians all over the world, today is being remembered as the day Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior resurrected. It's really a wonder day.
As you ponder on the reason for His death and resurrection, am wishing everyone on #blurt a happy Easter celebration.
Matt.16.26 :
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
INTRODUCTION
Think about everything that is important in your life? Did you ever thought it came from your soul? Think about this in relation to the world. Getting the best begins from know who really you are but Most people Live all their life on this earth not knowing truly who they are.
WHO ARE YOU?
The creation story from the Bible in Gen 1 wasn't complete without the creation of man.
Gen.1.26:
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen.1.27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen.1.28 - And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
God needed someone to manage what he has created, someone who would think like Him, act like Him. We a replica of who God is.
The Bible in PS.82VS6 reminds us that we are God's and the children of the most high. The some believers are the way they are is because they don't know who they are in christ Jesus. We are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..., we even higher than angel, oh my God--can you image that?
A man is made up of
A body
A soul
A spirit
The soul is the part of us that connects with our fellow human beings. The soul and spirit are intertwined as they connects us to God.
Heb.4.12:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Why then must you guide your Soul?
We have been instructed to guide our souls, that our whole body, soul and spirit be kept blameless before God (1 Thes. 5vs23).
The soul is an important aspect of man, Mark.8.36 - For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? That is a question you must ask yourself
Let is examine the parable of the rich man, whom God called a fool:
Luke.12.16 - And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke.12.17 - And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luke.12.18 - And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luke.12.19 - And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luke.12.20 - But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Your soul does not belong to you it belongs to God and must be guided jealousy.
Life or death : choose wisely
Also in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus:
Luke.16.19 - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
Luke.16.20 - And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
Luke.16.21 - And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
Luke.16.22 - And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke.16.23 - And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luke.16.24 - And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke.16.25 - But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
Luke.16.26 - And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Luke.16.27 - Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
Luke.16.28 - For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Luke.16.29 - Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
This is a clear picture that our soul will be returned to God our make. The soul leaves forever, testifies for or against you after you die. It is our duty to guide our soul. There is a heaven to pursue and a hell to avoid. You have a soul: Your soul can be saved and it can be lost. To lose your soul is the ultimate disaster, because it is the only loss from which you can never recover. One day we will die and your body will be laid in the ground. But your soul will last forever.
What then?
Some of us are actively trying to decide if we are going to follow Christ, knowing that it’s costly. You need to know what’s at stake. You try to save your life and you lose it. But Jesus says “If you lose your life to me, you will save it.”
Shalom