Take My Life

Based on 1 Kings 19-20, Luke 23:1-25

Unfortunately, it's easiest to give up. To release our responsibilities. To abandon the challenges. To some, it comes to the extent of no longer wanting to live...but this happens only when we're trying to take our lives into our own hands. When we give our lives into God's Hands & allow Him to take over, we find strength to keep going & renewed purpose!

"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."

1 Kings 19:4

Elijah was always a man on the run. Running to the people of Israel to give them a prophetic message, then running away because they sought his life. Either way, he always ran toward God & His Will! When he was tired of the chase, he requested that God take his life away...and God did want to take it, but with a different meaning than death...He wanted to take Elijah's life & restore it!

"And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." 1 Kings 19:5‭-‬8

The journey is usually too great for us too. It takes the One who created life to tell us how to live it! When we place our lives in His Hands, and take it out of our own control, life happens! When we take our own life, into our own hands, under our own control, we are literally fulfilling the meaning of "taking our own life," because death is the final destination. It seems harsh, but when God takes our life, He is able to bring new life, new hope, new refreshing, new purpose...something we cannot give ourselves!

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4

We need to bury ourselves in Jesus to rise to a greater life! When we get beneath ourselves in true repentance & under the waters of baptism, we are ready for the new breath & new life from the Holy Ghost! We need God to take our lives...so He can give us a new one!

"And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will." Luke 23:25

Jesus was placed in the hands of people, instead of people placing their lives in the Hands of Jesus. He's the One with the scars to prove it. He denied His flesh that we might have a chance to go through a new birth & live a new life! Next time an extreme thought comes to mind about taking life, take it to Jesus. He creates life. He creates purpose. Let Him re-direct you if you're feeling confused & empty...but don't give up! Just give it up to Jesus!