The Reason for My Being

J. D. Gallé | Thursday, 10 August 2023

        There may be much for which I might rightfully be ashamed throughout the course of my life, but not the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the reason for my being. His blood makes me clean. He is Creator, Redeemer, and King – the King of kings and Lord of lords, unto the ages of the ages. Amen.

Copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2023. All rights reserved.

Now Is the Time to Turn to the Lord Jesus Christ

J. D. Gallé | Tuesday, 28 February 2023

        Give your life wholly to the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Bow before no other god than the God and Father of Jesus Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2023. All rights reserved.

Christ-unlikeness: a Remonstrant’s Rumination

J. D. Gallé | Monday, 30 January 2023

        I shall be determined to know the Lord Jesus Christ and become more like him. And if I realise how little I am like him in my present condition, however feebly, perhaps my peregrination shall soon commence.

Copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2023. All rights reserved.

Matthew 16.23–27: a Remonstrant’s Rendering

J. D. Gallé | Monday, 31 October 2022

v. 23    And he, having turned, said unto Peter, ‘You must be getting behind me, Adversary! You are being a cause of stumbling for me! Because you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but the things of human beings.’

v. 24    At that time Jesus said unto his students, ‘If anyone is desiring to come behind me, he must

completely disregard himself

and lift up his cross

and be following me.

v. 25    ‘For whosoever may be desiring to preserve his life shall completely destroy it, but whosoever may completely destroy his life because of me shall discover it.

v. 26    ‘For what shall a person be benefited if he may have acquired the whole world but may have suffered loss of his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

v. 27    ‘For the Son of Man is on the point of arriving in the splendour of his Father with his angels, and at that time he shall give back to each in accordance with his practice.’ 

(Matthew 16.23–27, A Remonstrant’s Rendering)

Original translation copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2022, 2023. All rights reserved.

Revised verse 27 on Tuesday, 6 June 2023.

Altered one preposition in verses 23 and 24 on Wednesday, 30 August 2023.

Leaving and Letting Go of This World: a Remonstrant’s Reflections

J. D. Gallé | Tuesday, 22 June 2021

        It was not long ago that we entered this world, and it will no doubt not be long ere we shall depart, never again to partake in the bad or the good under the sun. All that we have here we will soon leave behind. We shall take nothing and no one with us from this world.
        This life is very much one of loss. There is nothing here we were intended to keep for ever. Yet it is hard not to cling when this world is all we have ever known. We may seek our happiness here, but it is ever elusive and fleeting.
        Christ or the world? Is the one whom we cannot now see truly worth more than the entire visible created order? Is the one through whom all things were made greater than all that has ever been or will come to be?

        What can we give to the Lord of all that he has not given to us? What is it he desires? It is our hearts, our lives, our very selves, that we must yield and return wholly to him. For love of the world and love of God are mutually exclusive; they cannot coexist. To find the Lord Jesus Christ, one must lose and let go of the world, being crucified to it while still living in it. And this is very hard.

Copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2021. All rights reserved.

Resolution of Repentance

        Cast aside everything that prevents you from pursuing the Lord Jesus Christ with an undivided heart. Let today and the rest of your life be one of repentance.

Find Him

The Lord calls us to diligently seek him. For there is no greater object to seek, and he loves to be found.

Forsake and Follow

Whatever sins you might be holding on to, now is the time to forsake them and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Losing Everything

J. D. Gallé | Tuesday, 1 December 2015

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 10.37–39)[1] 

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?” (Matt. 16.24–26)

        The entirety of a person’s life is to be invested in pursuing Jesus. The temporal recognition of colleagues, friendships, the love of a husband or wife, familial and relational stability, occupational security, financial prosperity, the acquisition of goods, health, and all worldly comforts may need to be sacrificed to this end. The sober truth we are presented with is that clinging dearly to one’s life in the present age will only result in losing it for the age to come. It is only in denying oneself and following Christ to the bitter end that one preserves his or her life. If one gains the whole world and yet loses Christ, one will have lost everything. For to lose Jesus Christ is to have lost everything.

Note

        1. All scriptural quotations have been taken from the English Standard Version (2011 text edition).

Copyright © J. D. Gallé, 2015, 2016, 2021. All rights reserved.


Latest revisions: 22 March 2016 (one word omitted); altered scriptural abbreviations, one word in article, and one word in note (17 Nov. 2021).