I understand about dying to self, however I admit I have never fully understood what Jesus meant when he said this. But today this concept was brought to my attention at a moment when I really needed it. I felt as if I'd finally grasped a truth that answered almost all of my questions and put my discontentment to rest.
If I'm lonely, hurt, confused, put down, or afraid, the answer is always "Take up your cross".
The cross is a symbol of death and physical pain, but also of spiritual birth/renewal. Put another way, it is a connection and our common ground with Christ and it signifies strength and love. Strength and love is what it takes to place ourselves on the alter every day.
The cross is the one thing we must have with us on our journey if we make the decision to follow in Jesus's footsteps - nothing else in the world is required.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (John 12:24) So, back to what I said in the beginning. If I'm lonely, the answer is: die with me; It's not a request.
It is only by overcoming ourselves daily that we can strengthen our relationship with Christ.
The cross is our relationship with Christ.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23)
March 31, 2011
March 29, 2011
Perspective
After the fall, I can imagine one of the first things that Adam and Eve noticed was how extremely impaired their perspective was.
Before they sinned, Adam and Eve were completely cared for by God, and therefore had nothing to be afraid of or worry about. God and His Creation was their entire world, so their eyes were always focused on Him. He was truly their All in All.
After they sinned, however, their vision moved away from the spiritual. It was pulled down to earth and their physical selves, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked..." Gen 3:7.
Perspective is a strong weapon of Satan's. Because we have sin, the way we view God and the spiritual realm can never be fully mended in this life. At one time we could see, but now its almost like we have to re-access it all by re-identifying it as we try to distinguish good from evil. I know at least for myself, my biggest battle is keeping hold of the insights God gives me into His mind and the spiritual realm and not allowing Satan to deceive me into despairing, losing faith, calling good things evil, or other such effects that come from him slipping his own perspective over God's.
The Devil is shrewd, and he will try to deliver the perspective from a source that we trust, such as the church. He will try and make us believe that something has always been a certain way, when really it is an error of this day and age.
We have to rely on scripture entirely so that the curtain can't be lowered, and so we can have firm faith in the truth that God has already made his enemies his footstool.
Before they sinned, Adam and Eve were completely cared for by God, and therefore had nothing to be afraid of or worry about. God and His Creation was their entire world, so their eyes were always focused on Him. He was truly their All in All.
After they sinned, however, their vision moved away from the spiritual. It was pulled down to earth and their physical selves, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked..." Gen 3:7.
Perspective is a strong weapon of Satan's. Because we have sin, the way we view God and the spiritual realm can never be fully mended in this life. At one time we could see, but now its almost like we have to re-access it all by re-identifying it as we try to distinguish good from evil. I know at least for myself, my biggest battle is keeping hold of the insights God gives me into His mind and the spiritual realm and not allowing Satan to deceive me into despairing, losing faith, calling good things evil, or other such effects that come from him slipping his own perspective over God's.
The Devil is shrewd, and he will try to deliver the perspective from a source that we trust, such as the church. He will try and make us believe that something has always been a certain way, when really it is an error of this day and age.
We have to rely on scripture entirely so that the curtain can't be lowered, and so we can have firm faith in the truth that God has already made his enemies his footstool.
March 25, 2011
The New Trend
There seems to be a infectious way of thinking that has woven its way through society, and it is this:
Above all else follow your dreams. No matter what obstacle stands in your way you can find a way through. If you do not succeed in doing this, then you are the obstacle.
Yes, nauseatingly familiar isn't it... the new 'trend'. And it is present in so many songs, books, and speeches like a drug slipped into a drink. It is a delusional way of thinking that will destroy an individual's relationship with God if it is able to take root.
As a Christian - I am a slave to my Master. His goals are my goals. His work is my work. His thoughts should be my thoughts (after all, we possess the same mind). "Find out what pleases the Lord" and "Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people." Eph 5:20, Col 3:23
How could we fool ourselves into thinking that it is even possible to find joy in anything where Christ is not our reason for doing it, and where His being glorified by our work is not the ultimate satisfaction and joy that is gained by it?
Partly what got me thinking more about this subject was an experience.
I was at a Christian concert recently and the main singer was giving an inspirational talk that came in snippets between songs. To tell you the truth I remember hardly anything about God being mentioned. The entire talk was geared toward teens, telling them to pursue their dreams and not let anything hold them back. The whole talk. Now I know the singer is truly an amazing Christian who writes uplifting songs, and that how they came across was probably not how they meant to come across. But my point is that, once again, that way of thinking and speaking is everywhere. We have to be on our guard.
In the world - This extreme pressure that inflicts society is to me one of the most damaging things I've seen. The world is led by friends, family, and media to emphatically believe that if they do not accomplish something 'big', the something that is their passion, then they have missed out on life. They have missed their chance at experiencing life at its fullest. They have failed, and they are less than worthy. From what I've seen, I truly believe that one of the primary causes of depression is people living by this way of thinking. They fail in fulfilling their dreams of love or career or whatever and they think it's over. They shut down and wait for their life to end (maybe they are not thinking it but it is the way they live the remainder of their lives and it guides the rest of their thoughts). Ever heard of a mid-life crisis? It is caused by the same way of thinking. They think that they have wasted their life, and they're right to an extent. They wasted their lives serving themselves when they could have been living the life God planned for them to live. The perfect life. A life of blissful servitude meant for glorifying the one who gave it to them. I feel sick thinking about the overwhelming despair that sweeps through society because of this viral way of thinking.
The reason this lie has been able to enter into our society is because Satan has taken advantage of our lack of perspective. From the beginning of time, up through about the 1950's, this way of thinking was not prominent. In the very old days people did what their parents did. Joseph was a carpenter so, naturally, Jesus was also. It was the trade of his family.
The Goal is waking up in the morning and making a conscious decision to die to self. It is being faithful and obedient in the small things. It is giving honor to whom honor is due.
Christ is the 'dream', although I prefer to say prize.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." and
"We know that every good and perfect thing comes from above" for "He knows how to give good gifts to his children."
Above all else follow your dreams. No matter what obstacle stands in your way you can find a way through. If you do not succeed in doing this, then you are the obstacle.
Yes, nauseatingly familiar isn't it... the new 'trend'. And it is present in so many songs, books, and speeches like a drug slipped into a drink. It is a delusional way of thinking that will destroy an individual's relationship with God if it is able to take root.
As a Christian - I am a slave to my Master. His goals are my goals. His work is my work. His thoughts should be my thoughts (after all, we possess the same mind). "Find out what pleases the Lord" and "Whatever you do, work at it wholeheartedly as though you were doing it for the Lord and not merely for people." Eph 5:20, Col 3:23
How could we fool ourselves into thinking that it is even possible to find joy in anything where Christ is not our reason for doing it, and where His being glorified by our work is not the ultimate satisfaction and joy that is gained by it?
Partly what got me thinking more about this subject was an experience.
I was at a Christian concert recently and the main singer was giving an inspirational talk that came in snippets between songs. To tell you the truth I remember hardly anything about God being mentioned. The entire talk was geared toward teens, telling them to pursue their dreams and not let anything hold them back. The whole talk. Now I know the singer is truly an amazing Christian who writes uplifting songs, and that how they came across was probably not how they meant to come across. But my point is that, once again, that way of thinking and speaking is everywhere. We have to be on our guard.
In the world - This extreme pressure that inflicts society is to me one of the most damaging things I've seen. The world is led by friends, family, and media to emphatically believe that if they do not accomplish something 'big', the something that is their passion, then they have missed out on life. They have missed their chance at experiencing life at its fullest. They have failed, and they are less than worthy. From what I've seen, I truly believe that one of the primary causes of depression is people living by this way of thinking. They fail in fulfilling their dreams of love or career or whatever and they think it's over. They shut down and wait for their life to end (maybe they are not thinking it but it is the way they live the remainder of their lives and it guides the rest of their thoughts). Ever heard of a mid-life crisis? It is caused by the same way of thinking. They think that they have wasted their life, and they're right to an extent. They wasted their lives serving themselves when they could have been living the life God planned for them to live. The perfect life. A life of blissful servitude meant for glorifying the one who gave it to them. I feel sick thinking about the overwhelming despair that sweeps through society because of this viral way of thinking.
The reason this lie has been able to enter into our society is because Satan has taken advantage of our lack of perspective. From the beginning of time, up through about the 1950's, this way of thinking was not prominent. In the very old days people did what their parents did. Joseph was a carpenter so, naturally, Jesus was also. It was the trade of his family.
The Goal is waking up in the morning and making a conscious decision to die to self. It is being faithful and obedient in the small things. It is giving honor to whom honor is due.
Christ is the 'dream', although I prefer to say prize.
"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." and
"We know that every good and perfect thing comes from above" for "He knows how to give good gifts to his children."
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