Salvation

Hi everyone,

Today I’ll talk about a comment Camila Cristina posted on my blog. This is what she wrote: “Mrs Freitas, I’d like you to keep posting messages about salvation. This is the most important subject of all. It edify us a lot.”

Camila, I will talk about salvation with pleasure. By the way, I always make a point of talking about this subject on my blog.

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” (Matthew 16:25-27)

We see that people want to enjoy the their lives to the full and find what gives them a momentary pleasure. But to conquer eternal life with Christ, we must do the opposite: we must lose our lives.

Even as a pastor’s wife, if I want to save my soul I have to deny my will. As I’ve already mentioned on the blog, many times unforeseen situations arise and our will wants to take over. This is happens all the time, but I value my salvation, and so I choose to let God guide my life.

I must submit to the control and dominion of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide and direct me.

Those who serve God on the altar, in particular, must deny their will; God needs me to deny my will in order to be able to serve Him and thus save my own life.

In my case, self-control does not refer to worldly pleasures, as before, because it has lost its value. What I have to control now is my desire to take over whenever something unexpected happens or I am faced with a challenge.

We will soon start a new TV show for women at iurdtv.eu (in Portuguese only), and this has already made me feel disquieted, since it involves many responsibilities. But I must not allow myself to be anxious in situations like this.

I’m saying this so you may understand what it means to lose one’s life, which is not only about denying the worldly pleasures and friendships… It’s much more than this! For example, you should not allow the media to control you, the Internet to enslave you, or fashion to dictate what you should wear (be careful not to become too worried about your appearance); you shouldn’t do many things in the church expecting the pastor to acknowledge your work, etc. In other words, don’t expect to succeed in life if you depend on others; you should depend on God.

To lose your life is to leave your comfort zone in order to serve God and give yourself for others.

Whoever wants to save his/her life must lose it. They must leave their comfort zone; stop being selfish and worrying about their love life. The more they worry and struggle, the more selfish they become, and the situation becomes more difficult and distressing.

When I was single, I made myself available to serve God and stopped worrying about my love life. I made a vow with God: I decided to prioritise Him and not worry about this area of my life. I had no idea of what was in store for me; all I knew was that I would serve God. One year later, I was engaged and about to get married.

There are people who are so busy taking care of their own lives, their desires, thoughts and ideas, that everyone has to bend to their way of being; they don’t want to submit to God’s voice. They don’t want to lose their life, to place it on the altar of God.

“And whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it.”

To give your life to Jesus! Not to your boyfriend, husband, the pastor or the Church, but for His sake.

Not because you have a need, or a problem that needs to be solved.

Your intention should be to please Jesus. This should be your priority, and the other things will be added onto you.

There’s no point in doing this just because I’m saying. It has to come from you; you yourself have to say, “I need this!”

In doing so, you will stop being a person who controls your own life and start being a person who serves God.

By losing your life, you will find happiness.

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” What’s the point of getting married and having a successful career, if you lose your soul?

You will be afflicted!

Many celebrities lead miserable lives in spite of the money they have. They can have the women/men they want at their feet, but they are unhappy; addicts. Their soul is looking for happiness and rest in what is futile and temporary. Even money becomes worthless!

Dear friend, think. If you think, you will save your soul; you will put the Lord Jesus first. And don’t do it in a religious manner; do it because you truly love Him.

As consequence, He will reward you according to your works, and because you have prioritised Him in your life.