"As a child of God, compromise with this world is not far from cowardice"...
...Those words suddenly popped into my head while participating in a morning journal group as we read Ephesians chapter 5. It gave me pause and made me do some pretty serious thinking. How much courage did it take for Jesus to save me?... To save you? And how much courage does it really take for me to stand apart from the world - set apart from the world and its ways as a true child of God as He's called us to be? The world has it's temptations and insistent demands and likes to try to shame us into following obediently, but we have a higher calling...
"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)
...Just how much courage does it take for you and I to walk firmly in Christ's footsteps toward the cross, knowing all the while where they may lead - not missing one? What does it mean in real terms to follow Christ? How serious is our calling? Jesus sacrificed everything in this world, even His own physical life. He knew where He was going and what it would cost Him in suffering, but He kept firmly to the path that His Father called Him to walk. He walked it faithfully and obediently ... all the way to the terror of the cross.
But now, "following the example of Christ..."
What does that mean to you and I? Are we willing?
It's a fantastic over simplification I know, but for a moment think of the world and its ways this way: You're one in a herd of lemmings racing as a pack toward a cliff and certain death, but you, you're called to stop and stand against the oncoming current and live. You know that may mean that you'll be buffeted and battered as you stand, but isn't the reward of living freely beyond the oncoming tide of death worth the cost?
"Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness." Ephesians 6:14 (NLT)
Jesus knew what the end was and it was for that that He kept walking obediently. But that end wasn't the cross - it was the Mercy Seat beyond, right beside the throne of His Father God with the hope of you and I at His feet. That's where those footsteps lead. Whatever we may encounter and be buffeted by in this life isn't what we're walking toward as we follow those footsteps - it's our place in that life beyond, at Jesus' feet. What's that worth?
As time passes and the world's lemmings draw closer to the edge, things in this life will grow more turbulent. We've been warned about the trouble of the end times in scripture, but our goal is beyond the end of that writhing of this world's current. We're called to stand - set apart from the world and its ways toward a different, living and eternal end. We have a mission, a title and a reward beyond this world's comprehension and beyond our wildest dreams. All of this stems from an intimate, loving and life giving relationship with Christ Jesus, one that He bought for us with HIS everything. What's it worth?!
"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
How much courage does it really take when we know what we're walking toward and that we never walk, following in those footsteps alone? In reality, the goal is worth... whatever and anything it costs.
So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)
"As a child of God, compromise with this world is not far from cowardice." Words that gave me some food for thought...
...I think that maybe as we're obedient to Him, our faith in the God who guarantees the outcome, holds the answer to the height of our courage...
Hmm... more food for thought?
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
...Those words suddenly popped into my head while participating in a morning journal group as we read Ephesians chapter 5. It gave me pause and made me do some pretty serious thinking. How much courage did it take for Jesus to save me?... To save you? And how much courage does it really take for me to stand apart from the world - set apart from the world and its ways as a true child of God as He's called us to be? The world has it's temptations and insistent demands and likes to try to shame us into following obediently, but we have a higher calling...
"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." Ephesians 5:1-2 (NLT)
...Just how much courage does it take for you and I to walk firmly in Christ's footsteps toward the cross, knowing all the while where they may lead - not missing one? What does it mean in real terms to follow Christ? How serious is our calling? Jesus sacrificed everything in this world, even His own physical life. He knew where He was going and what it would cost Him in suffering, but He kept firmly to the path that His Father called Him to walk. He walked it faithfully and obediently ... all the way to the terror of the cross.
But now, "following the example of Christ..."
What does that mean to you and I? Are we willing?
It's a fantastic over simplification I know, but for a moment think of the world and its ways this way: You're one in a herd of lemmings racing as a pack toward a cliff and certain death, but you, you're called to stop and stand against the oncoming current and live. You know that may mean that you'll be buffeted and battered as you stand, but isn't the reward of living freely beyond the oncoming tide of death worth the cost?
"Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness." Ephesians 6:14 (NLT)
Jesus knew what the end was and it was for that that He kept walking obediently. But that end wasn't the cross - it was the Mercy Seat beyond, right beside the throne of His Father God with the hope of you and I at His feet. That's where those footsteps lead. Whatever we may encounter and be buffeted by in this life isn't what we're walking toward as we follow those footsteps - it's our place in that life beyond, at Jesus' feet. What's that worth?
As time passes and the world's lemmings draw closer to the edge, things in this life will grow more turbulent. We've been warned about the trouble of the end times in scripture, but our goal is beyond the end of that writhing of this world's current. We're called to stand - set apart from the world and its ways toward a different, living and eternal end. We have a mission, a title and a reward beyond this world's comprehension and beyond our wildest dreams. All of this stems from an intimate, loving and life giving relationship with Christ Jesus, one that He bought for us with HIS everything. What's it worth?!
"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)
How much courage does it really take when we know what we're walking toward and that we never walk, following in those footsteps alone? In reality, the goal is worth... whatever and anything it costs.
So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)
"As a child of God, compromise with this world is not far from cowardice." Words that gave me some food for thought...
...I think that maybe as we're obedient to Him, our faith in the God who guarantees the outcome, holds the answer to the height of our courage...
Hmm... more food for thought?
"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)
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