Carrying the Cross

And anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.  ~ Matthew 10:38

Just a week ago thousands of college students gathered in Atlanta, Georgia to listen to amazing speakers, worship as a generation, and ultimately to encounter God in life-changing ways.  Although I was unable to attend this event (Passion Conference 2011), I did listen to the main speakers through online streaming.  One of the overarching themes was living a life that reflects what you believe.  If you really believe that Christ died on a cross to save us from ourselves and without Him we are doomed to an eternity separated from Him, how could we see the people around us who don’t know Him and say nothing?  If we really claim to take God’s Word, the Bible, as the ultimate Truth, how can we watch these people and condemn them to this fate because we are too shy, too fearful, too tolerant to tell them the hope we have in Christ?

A day or two after listening to these messages as I was driving to school, praying, and reflecting all that I had learned, God put this question on my heart:  Who’s watching you?  It was a little confusing at first, but God elaborated on this question and here’s what I ended up with:

I had this image of Christ walking through the streets of the city after being beaten, humiliated, whipped, and now forced to carry His own cross.  As I watched this procession in my mind I was made aware of the crowds that would have watched this scene.  All the people that would have come outside to watch this man, this Christ, come through the town. 

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. . . ~ Luke 23:35a

Christ never denied who He was.  He never denied the power of His Father and He never went back on what He had been preaching even though it would have saved His life.  Because of this people knew Him.  They watched Him.  Crowds would gather around to hear Him speak.  And at His death crowds once again gathered around to watch Him. 

At this time I was reminded that Jesus commanded us as followers of Christ, to pick up our cross and carry it daily (Matt 10:38, 16:24; Luke 9:23, 14:27).  Once again I encountered the question:  Who is watching you?  I realized that if I’m not picking up my cross and following Christ daily, there’s no one watching me.  I’m just another person walking through this life, apparently lost like everyone else.  If, however, I’m carrying the cross with me, I’m carrying the hope and salvation of Christ into my every day, people are going to watch.  They are going to be interested in what I have, what I carry.  And when the time comes I’ll be able to share with them this hope, love, and salvation that Christ died and rose again to give me. 

So I ask this of you:  Who is watching you?  If there is no one then I must ask whether you picked up your cross this morning.  Are you living a life that reflects the life Christ died to give you?

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. ~ Philippians 1:27a

Grace or Rules?

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! ~ Galatians 2:21


Have you ever come to the end of the day and realized you didn’t pray? Or maybe you didn’t read your Bible? Have you ever done this and then felt like you were such a horrible person for having forgotten? I actually do this often. I would almost feel condemned for not having read enough scripture or for not having memorized scripture in a while. A couple things to point out about this line of thinking:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ~ Romans 8:1

If you are feeling condemned at all, it’s not from God. We often condemn ourselves or allow the Enemy to speak into our lives because we feel like we’ve let God down. Like we aren’t good enough. I’ll let you in on a secret – we’re not good enough. But it is not required that we be “good enough.” Paul says all throughout Galatians basically that if we were good enough and able to fulfill all the law, then Christ died for nothing. God knew that we weren’t perfect. He understood that we could not fulfill the law, so He sent His son to take our punishment.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ~ Romans 3:22-24

We have been saved by grace, not by the law. Not by reading our Bible an hour every day. Not by praying for thirty minutes on our knees every morning. Not by giving more to the church or volunteering or anything that we can accomplish on our own.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

Then why do we so often, even after accepting God’s free gift of grace, try to earn our salvation? We start thinking we have to meet certain requirements or follow certain rules to be good enough. We even start to look down on others who perhaps aren’t following the same regulations we place on ourselves. Please do not misunderstand me. I certainly am not trying to say that a daily devotion, prayer, giving, volunteering, or any of these activities are wrong. I only ask that you consider your motives. Are you doing them because you feel like you have to or because you are delighted to show others the love that Christ has shown you?

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? ~ Galatians 3:3

We cannot attain by human effort what Christ has already freely given.

"For your first time you truly repent"

This past weekend a wonderful thing happened.  My cousin accepted Jesus as his personal savior!  :) 

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  ~ Luke 15:10

Just a few days after this glorious decision, he wrote this poem.  I was pretty blown away and wanted to share it with you:

As she stares with her scarlet eyes,
Her white face pale with dishonesty,
She finds humor as beauty dies,
And fills the gap with hypocrisy.

You open your mouth, you're voice is lame
You open your eyes, you see she's near
You open your ears, she speaks her name
You gasp for air, for she is fear

Your mind and body are screaming for help
For your first time you truly repent
She touches your skin as you start to yelp
You hear a voice, "your help is sent"

Closing your eyes, you're blinded by light
Closing your mouth, you're robbed of air
You open your eyes to a beautiful sight
He's smiling upon you, you're free of despair.

~ Michael Malendoski

Beautiful Feet

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. ~ Ephesians 2:4-5


A few days ago God dropped this verse into my heart. As I contemplated this, I realized that many of the people I pass along the street, in the store, at work, or elsewhere everyday are walking dead in their transgressions. They don’t know what it’s like to be “alive with Christ.” I was really convicted about what I’m doing to show these people the life that comes from knowing Christ. What am I doing to show them there is a way to life? That what they are living isn’t what was intended for them. After coming to an understanding of the question, God took me further to show me what I needed to be doing:

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. ~ I Thessalonians 2:8

I can tell these people about the love of Christ all day long, but what am I doing to show them this love? Can they see the love of Christ in my actions? I want to live in such a way that I am sharing my life with them, that I am making time for them. As my pastor taught tonight – time is something you can never get back. It is priceless. When you take time out of your life to be there for someone, to share a kind word, to show an interest in their life, and to love them, they take notice. They recognize that you are freely giving them something that you can never get back. It tells them you believe they have value, they are worth your time. They are worth those few minutes or hours.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:14-16

When you take that time for people, they begin to take notice of your actions and what makes you different from others who would walk away. Don’t hold back! YOU are the light of the world! Where light enters, darkness cannot dwell. We have the light of Christ that breaks through all darkness. We have the power to share that light with others, but are we taking the time to do that? Are we allowing our lives to be used to bring light to the darkness in others’ lives? Don’t put your lamp under a bowl, put it on its stand so that it can shine before all men!

Even as I’m writing this God is giving me the image of a lighthouse. Lighthouses are set up as beacons for ships at sea to know when they are approaching home and to guide them safely into shore. We are lighthouses! When we put our light up on its stand we serve as a beacon for those lost at sea, lost in the darkness where they can’t see the shore. We can guide them safely home.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" ~ Romans 10:14-15

Breaking Free

Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good – no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. ~ Philemon 15-16


Philemon is a very interesting book of the Bible. Tucked away between Titus and Hebrews, it’s often looked over. Being only one chapter, the probability of randomly flipping to it is quite small, but man does it have a message! In this letter to Philemon Paul is approaching Philemon on behalf of his new brother in Christ, Onesimus. See, Onesimus was a slave of Philemon who after being “useless” to him, ran away (verse 11). Paul explains that while this man may have been useless to Philemon before, he is now useful to both Philemon and Paul. Despite his desire to keep Onesimus with him, Paul is sending him back to Philemon (verse 12).

As I began writing this entry I was thinking of the message in verses 15 and 16. These verses really spoke to me as I read through the book because they talk about letting go of things in our lives so that God can bring them back to us better than before. Even though I believe this is still a wonderful message and we can take a lot from it, I’m being constantly reminded of how each of us is like Onesimus. Let me explain . . .

You and I were each born as slaves. In John 8:34 Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” If you don’t believe you have sinned in your life I have news for you. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Each of us has sinned and has been a slave to sin just as Onesimus was a slave in Philemon’s house. As slaves we were useless. We couldn’t glorify God because we were too bogged down by the sins of our past and present. But, just like Onesimus, we escaped. We found freedom.

In my anguish I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free! ~ Psalm 118:5


So if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed. ~ John 8:36

In Christ we are given freedom. No longer are you bogged down by the sins of your past. Jesus Christ took your place on the cross. He paid your debt. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 6:23) The law said the punishment for our sins is that we die, but our gracious, heavenly Father rescued us by sending His own Son to take our place. Praise God!

We see this parallel in a smaller version in the story of Onesimus in Philemon. Paul says, “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back.” (Philemon 18-19) This is what Christ did for us. He looked to His Father and said, “Whatever they have done, charge it to me. I’ll pay the price.”

Onesimus was sent back to Philemon as a brother in Christ. Again, like Onesimus, we are no longer slaves, but family. We are children of God.

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. ~ Galatians 4:7

Not only are you no longer a slave, you are a child of the Most High! And not only are we children of God, we have a share in His inheritance. We are co-heirs with Christ! And as Beth Moore said, “We have a rich Father!” Praise Him from who all blessings come!

This is a gift. It is not something that is forced on us, but something we can choose whether or not we want to accept. What would you prefer? A life of slavery to sin or breaking free with Christ and accepting the amazing gift He has for you?  Once you are a child of God, the road doesn't end.  Just like any good father, He wants to bless your life in ways you couldn't imagine.  He has so much in store for us, we couldn't even comprehend if He revealed everything.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen.  ~ Ephesians 3:20-21

A Whole Shell

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ~Romans 8:15-16


I love to pick up shells on the beach. One day this past week I had the chance to take a walk along the beach and was truly excited about what shells I might find. As I walked along and picked up some shells and left others lie where the waves had washed them, I began to understand that we are like these shells. While all of them begin in the same place – the ocean – they are in very different conditions by the time they reach the shore. Some shells are chipped while others are completely shattered. I have yet to find a shell in all my years that was not at least chipped after being tossed around in the ocean.  All the shells have withstood at least some damage, some worse than others.

Look around you. This is the story of mankind. Some have been through situations that have chipped away at them. Then there are others who have faced circumstances that have left them shattered. Perhaps you need only look as far as a mirror to find one of these. But fear not! There is hope:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ~2 Corinthians 5:17

Christ offers to take your broken shell and make it whole once more! In Christ you are made a new creation. Where human hands could only attempt to glue the pieces back together or find similar pieces to fill the gap, God takes that broken shell and completely heals it. No duct tape necessary! Too often we, as humans, try to fix these broken pieces in our lives by filling them with things that will not satisfy. We try to super glue in approval from men to replace a need to be loved. We fill our bodies with foreign substances (alcohol, drugs, etc.) to fulfill a need to feel peace and joy. These are artificial. These are pieces from other shells that have been glued into our lives to make us look whole. But just as a shell that has been glued back together is fragile and full of cracks, so are the lives of those that turn to anything other than God to fill the void in their lives. There is no need for you to accept anything less than what you were meant to be, what you were created to be. You can be a new creation!

Freedom

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.  "We are your slaves," they said.  But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  Genesis 50:18-20

Joseph has an amazing story!  He was beloved by his father, buy hated by his brothers. When his brothers sold him into slavery it must have been a horrible blow.  Then when he was wrongly accused of a crime by his master's wife and thrown into prison, it must have felt as though this was it - all he had to look forward to.  But God wasn't done with him.  He was brought up from that place and made second in command under Pharoah!  Talk about a rags to riches story!

God used this passage to really speak to me today.  His message was very simple, but life changing.  What others have intended for evil in your life, God can use for good.  I believe these "evil things" can be something that was done to you or choices you have made yourself.  But take courage.  No matter what these things are, God is going to use for good in your life to accomplish His goals, "the saving of many lives!"

There are so many of us that have made choices that we have later come to regret.  Choices that we may have even known were wrong at the time we did them, but we chose them anyways.  God is saying today that this isn't the end.  Your story isn't over.  Don't think He can't use even those choices you made that plague your memory, that cause you guilt and despair.  Our God is the God of miracles.  His thoughts are higher than your thoughts and His ways higher than your ways.  Nothing you do is "unsavable" or "unredeemable."  The blood of Christ covers ALL sin! 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  Ephesians 1:7

Your sin is forgiven as soon as you confess Jesus Christ as your personal Savior (Romans 10:9-10).  God says your sin is as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).  So don't let it control your life! Let me say it again - Don't let your sin eat away at you!  Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  You make the choice.  You can choose to be "burdened again" by the sin in your life or you can choose freedom! 

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.  Romans 6:14

No matter what decisions you have made in your life or what has happened to you, recognize that God still has a purpose and a plan for you.  He will use those choices and experiences to glorify His Kingdom.  His love for you knows no bounds.  He will never leave you.  You may feel that you have made unforgivable choices, but remember we serve a kind, gracious, and forgiving Father who is waiting, ready to forgive.  You need only ask.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for [you] . . .   Psalm 138:8a