Jesus stunned the citizens of Capernaum with a metaphor ---leave your mother, leave your father behind.... it's called the cost of discipleship. Did He mean it literally? No. But, did He mean it?
No "by-path meadow" here. We all enter through the same door. It cost Jesus His Life, literally, for you and for me to have access to the Kingdom. He is our Righteousness.
The Sun of Righteousness is Rising Up
to bring Light into your Darkness.
Are you willing to leave it all for Him?
What is that still in your grasp, slipping through your fingers?
For What do you long for in this life?
For Whom do you long?
"If you want to build a ship,
don't drum up people to collect wood and
don't assign them tasks and work,
but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."
Antoine de Saint Exupéry
Counting the Cost
ReplyDelete" Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"
And I'll answer that question right now: No. We don't have enough to complete our mission. But Jesus offers enough mercies each day to see us through one day at a time, sometimes one minute at a time.
There is no Resurrection without the Cross. I know being Christ's disciple has cost several of you more than I can imagine. And I don't know why some of us have to suffer so terribly and others seem to go through life unscathed. I wished it were easier. I wished it were different. God certainly seems to use your suffering to bring so much wisdom and authenticity to you. Christ Jesus was born to die for us. His sinless Body bore our sins, our shame, our sickness, our suffering and glorious Resurrection came. He was delivered so that we may be delivered.
As you bear your cross, remember Resurrection awaits. Suffer well. Wait expectantly. He returns soon.
Quick question: How do you NOT carry your own cross? Scripture says take up your cross, and bear your cross. I was just talking with Angie about how negative that sounds. I figure we carry a burden for the spread of the Gospel to some degree, but people usually talk about burdens of life associated with bearing your cross. Forgive me for a poor attitude, please. I think I'm missing something bigger here. What's your understanding of picking up your cross?
ReplyDeleteI don't know the answer to that question, Annette.
ReplyDeleteAs I think about the sober truth of following Christ and bearing my cross, I feel like I have to focus on two things:
1. I am saved by grace. What a precious gift that is to me, an undeserving sinner! God loved me enough to send his son to die in my place.
2. He has commanded me to go tell. Share his gospel. Reach out to sinners and draw them to Jesus.
Simple gift offerred to all.
Simple command given to believers.
Right?
To me, it's not so simple. To come to the cross, I have to let go of my life and surrender it to Jesus. It is too costly for some. But according to Jesus, it is the only way. He must be Lord. No straddling the fence. No convenient christianity.
And then we have to share Christ with others. We risk a lot to tell someone we love they are lost and going to hell without Jesus. But we can't count the cost. We have to be willing to share even if it costs us relationships with loved ones and mocking from those we know in passing.
Some will be killed for their faith...even today. Some risk being thrown out of entire villages in areas of militant false religions.
Is that bearing our own cross?
It's the only way. Christ first. Always.
Great answer Twinkle.
ReplyDeletePopular books today say: Our Cross is our present sufferings---those things that bother us. Things we have to carry, put up with. However, we can still be selfish in our suffering.
The Cross is a means of "death." Take up your cross---die to yourself. I die daily. Die to my desires, my ambitions, my plans. Surrender. Live for the Lord's desires. Major Ian Thomas is a great author to understand the Cross.
Thank you both. Whatever I have taken it for, I know it is more.
ReplyDelete"It's the only way. Christ first. Always." Love this, Deborah. It's a beautiful truth to read. I can say it as I know it is true, but it's a daily surrender that I don't do well.
I love Maj. Ian Thomas, Bev. I haven't read his work but did a study years ago called "The Saving Life of Christ." You said "We can be selfish in our suffering." So true.
Die daily.
To me the key word is "own". I think taking ownership and making the cross personal is what's important. When it all comes down to it, we all have our own struggles that make us desperate for Him. One of my favorite parts of "The Passion" is when Simon helps Jesus carry the cross and has compassion for Him. He isn't focusing on his own issues when He sees Jesus' pain being so much worse than anything He has or will ever have to endure. Some people look for quick fixes to get others to take on their problems. LIke I said before, it's personal.
ReplyDeleteI know one thing that has really been hard for me these last months. Letting go of control. I've finally gotten to the place where I can open up my hand and tell God I give all my hopes and dreams and prayers to him.
ReplyDeleteI would prefer to hold on tight to what I want. But I have to open my hand and give control to God.
That's very personal. And it's not easy. I have great faith, but it is costly to shut your eyes and let God take you on His wild ride. Where is he taking me? What is over this mountain?
I have counted the cost and Jesus is worthy. My hand is wide open. Not one finger clings to what I hold dear.
He has brought me here. I have to believe that He has a plan for good in my life.
Faith. Unseen belief. Unknown course. Cost counted.