I started this blog because I needed a place to preach. I needed a pulpit and an audience because God has given me a message to speak. I think I have drifted away from that purpose by trying to opine with the crowd. So, read it or don't. Agree with it or don't. The choice is yours. My choice is to follow the call.
And He said to all, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my a sake will save it." --Luke 9:23, 24
First of all, let me say that this is the call of JGen. To deny one's self and follow Christ daily. Continual, moment-by-moment denial and rejection of the world, and our desires to be accepted by it. This is discipleship at its purest and most earnest.
Jesus' disciples knew that to "come after Him" meant to join company with Him and His posse as they walked about ministering in Palestine. As was said this weekend, and by Benji for the past fifty or so years, true salvation isn't just believing, it's following.
We can't follow half-heartedly. It's an all or none deal. Jesus didn't take His cross part of the way. He didn't take on half of the world's sins. He didn't die for half of mankind. It was for all. Or for none at all.
How many times I have made a commitment to turn my life completely over to God, only to find myself unchanged a few short weeks later. It's because I only went half-way. I released a few things to Him; the obvious things that everyone knew about me. This makes for a good show of obedience and gets some hearty amens from the old-timers. But those things that I held onto were anchors.
I can't take up my cross if my hands are full of my desires and treasures. They must be laid down and left behind me. Jesus took His cross and carried it to the point of His death. If we wish to follow Him, we must be willing to do the same. It's a decision that will lead to rejection, isolation, suffering, and even death. But as is written Hebrews 12:2: "...who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame."
Jesus suffered the shame of a public, naked execution, and the pain of torturous death for the future reward and joy that was promised. Most likely, our suffering will be much less than His. But our reward will be the same. I don't know about you, but that sounds like love to me.
Daily self-denial and contempt for the world is the path of Christ. It's the path to righteousness and to eternal joy.
What are the treasures in your hands? A home? A job? Wealth? A relationship?
You have a mansion in heaven. You have a purpose in Christ. You have eternal riches. And you have a love that cannot fade away.
