The cross is more than a Symbol of religious IDENTITY. The cross is a place of personal SURRENDER. If you presently find yourself arguing with God concerning His will for your life-I, pray that He will make your bed feel like you are sleeping on broken glass… until you become willing to surrender and say Yes… to whatever He is asking of you. In fact, I IMPLORE YOU…by God, to not just say yes to that “specific something” … which He has placed His finger on in your life TODAY, but for you to give Him a FOREVER YES…IN EVERYTHING…from this day forward.
1 John 2:6 NIV translation states: Whoever (that’s personal) WHOEVER means you and me, (WHOEVER CLAIMS WHAT?) … claims to live in him, (THAT’S you and me… who claim to live in him), MUST… (must is not optional or a matter of selective choosing) …must WHAT? MUST LIVE AS JESUS LIVED! Live like He lived, If you feel like it… If it’s convenient FOR YOU? NO!!!
I’ll let you in on a little secret. Surrendering yourself to God entirely; is never going to be convenient and you are NEVER going to feel like doing it, ALL THE TIME. The word of God and the things of God ARE NOT a buffet line where WE get to pick and choose what suits us at the time. We can read the Word of God SOMETIMES like it’s a food tasting at Walmart, Cosco or our favorite supermarket. IF WE LIKE IT…WE BUY IT. If not…we keep it moving to the next isle or on to the next item that’s FREE.
I like John 3:16. I like 1John 1:9. I like Philippians 4:13 and Philippians 4:19 also. BUT…I am not always as thrilled with Matthew 26:27 where we are told of Jesus…”And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, drink ye all of it”.
Jesus said DRINK ALL OF IT…NOT A SIP, A SAMPLE, or a LITTLE TASTE!
Going through the cross means dying TO ourselves, surrendering our will, and yielding our body as instruments of holiness…UNTO GOD!
Luke 9:23 NLT…Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross…DAILY, and follow me.
John the Baptist said it this way in John 3:30…He must increase but I must decrease.
2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer (die to self), we shall also reign with him. RESURRECTION LIVING!
I’m here for yah… and even though I probably have not met you personally, yet, I pray for you daily because I pray for every person who reads this blog.
