by David Brenneman
"Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding." Proverbs 9:6.
While it is comforting comforting to to know that our heavenly Father will never forsake us, it is challenging to accept that that following Jesus as our Lord means we'll have to abandon some things we cherish-relationships, goals, material possessions, and sources of earthly security that God has required we leave behind for Him.
It is sometimes very painful to forsake that to which we've become attached. It is even more difficult when our attachment is not necessarily sinful but something our Lord compels us to give up for His own good reason. The great aim of the Holy Spirit is to help us surrender to Christ in every area of our lives. Then and only then can His power flow unhindered through us into the lives of others
Is there any possession, habit, role, behavior, or relationship in your life to which Christ does not have complete access and control? Is there some area that you have reserved for yourself? Following Jesus requires that you abandon all to Him. Can you truthfully say to your Lord, "All that I am and all that I have is Yours"? I hope you can because that is true freedom.
Jesus, I surrender everything I am and all I have to You. May You be glorified in me. Amen.
- Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.
When we consider the words of Jesus when He said "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone shes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." - Luke 9:23.
This particular devotional is one that many, it appears, do not wish to talk about. However, mine isn't to add to their silence but rather to add to those who do bring it up.
There's no wrong in realizing that this is a difficult subject. Note as well that this is a daily thing for all who are in Christ Jesus to partake of. This isn't for that phantom day of the week called "Someday" or it's cousin "One day".
Waiting for the "right time" to do this...you will never get to it. The choice to stop and take it up is always right before you to be doing. No matter what direction you turn, there it is. No matter how you try to cover it up, it always shines through. No matter how you try to redefine it, it's true colors always prevail. Why? Because it's exactly what you're to be doing in your life.
You may have goals, ambitions, strong desires, of what you think you want out of your life.
They will likely get in your way of taking up your cross. Go further into the New Testament and you'll find "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.
I have had dreams, ambitions, desires, and have had to learn that many of those are in the way of what the Spirit says that I'm here to be doing for the Kingdom of God in Christ.
There was, from my determination, nothing "wrong" with those things. However, in His wisdom, some of those grander things that crossed my mind...He said would conflict with His plans and purpose both for me and for mankind. I am, after-all, not just a writer, but an inventor.
It's good to set goals, but before they are set, check with He who is in charge. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them...that HE prepared.
You being born where you were, when you were, was no mistake. Even HOW you came out to be upon being born. My big example is myself. I was born with some of the effects of toxoplasmosis. It can cause all sorts of birth defects. Some things that have impacted me don't bother most people. However, this is how He created me and this is the body that's been made this way to glorify God. Nothing about how I was born was a mistake.
You were born with glorifying God in all that you do on His mind. His desire is for you first to come to Christ for salvation, then to live a life that exemplifies that to the world around you. To shine your light in such a way that people see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. These good works are what was referred to in Ephesians 2:10.
It's painful to let go of things or thoughts that we 'enjoy'. But, in my case, I look back now after pursuing what it is that the Spirit has directed me to...I can see the waste. The waste of time, of money, of the superficial joy that wasn't joy at all in those things. This is on top of the waste of years saying I was living for Jesus when I wasn't really. MANY go into churches every week saying they are living for Jesus who are absolutely not. They are as selfish as the world is going into church as they are when they leave.
Letting go and letting God do what it is that He's desiring to do in each of us is what taking up our cross daily has in mind. You can't hold onto anything else but that cross because it takes your all to do so.
Your desires, your hobbies, your forms of entertainment, could very easily be incompatible with the righteous life that God desires for you. Now this is also to say that there might be elements of these that CAN be God honoring but first you need to pray and find out first. Never assume. Never attribute your definitions of what is right and true with what the Spirit say is right and true. Never base your feelings as His answer either.
Take up your own cross daily. This, I believe ties in with something else that Jesus said "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34.
A very popular song many decades ago was "One Day at a Time". That is how we take up our cross, one day at a time. That is how we should focus on living, one day at a time. That's how we should approach carrying our own cross, one day at a time.
Life isn't complicated when our own cross is what we're carrying and following Jesus.
Whether it's big things or small things, take them all to the Lord in prayer. Jesus also said "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke i seasy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30.
We make it much more complicated in considering what all MIGHT be asked of us to give up.
Before you go there...find out first through prayer. Don't be worrying about the MIGHT be's.
You'll never see just what kind of things that God will do through you until you surrender to taking up your own cross daily and following Him.
I look back on things...and I don't miss anything that I've given up. The fears I had at the time were beyond unfounded.
Let go and let God do in you what you're here to be doing. Take up your own cross and follow Jesus wholeheartedly.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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