In Romans chapter 7, Paul talks about the division he feels in himself as a Christian. At one point he says (vv 22-23), "For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members."

On one hand there is his mind that delights in the Word, but his flesh yearns to sin. I was thinking about this this evening when thinking about the community that God has placed me in here at SPCC. I have gathered around me friendships that, to varying degrees, challenge me to me more like Christ. And in my mind, I want that. But in my flesh, I hate it. My flesh would rather I conform to the image of sin and focus on self-preservation.

But look at Mark 8:35 in the context of this self-preservation: " For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it."

Then take that verse and couple it with Proverbs 28:13 -- "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

Together, I hear these saying, (in the context of community): Don't seek to preserve some good impression or image that people may have of you; rather, seek with all dilligence to throw off sin and every self-preserving bent in order to gain and be conformed to the image of Christ. Hebrews puts it this way: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely..."

This may sound nice and simple and Christian and wise. But when it comes to doing it...aye, therein lies the trouble. This self-preserving bent wants to control information about myself. Sometimes under the guise of "confidentiality" (which has it's rightful place) it will hide sin. Sometimes under pretense, seeking selfish gain in the future, my flesh supresses truth about myself before others.

But Jesus' words speak clearly to this: Seek your life and you will lose it. Lose it-- risk your impressions and your image and all that men may esteem you for--and then you will find what you are looking for. 

I cherish the men in my Life Group who pray for my wretched, wandering soul. I cherish the guys and gals on staff who sharpen me to serve more faithfully. I cherish my other friends who challenge me to live more authentically.   I am thankful too for those in the congregation I do not even know but for whom I must give an account one day before God for my life, speech, and example.

And part of me despises each and every one of you. 

Let us press on through  such resistance together to put that foe to death--both yours and mine to the glory of Christ.