DAILY!
We, the Christians, loves Jesus (amen)
We, the Christians, worships Jesus (amen)
We, the Christians, likes His blessings (amen)
We, the Christians, carries our cross, daily (huh?!?)
Say that again?
What Cross?
Jesus paid it ALL, right?
He crossed the cross part,
So that I don't have to deal with it,
Carry it..
Urgh..
Why should I?
Why would I?
Christianity is ALL about blessing,
NOT
Suffering!
WRONG!
I am sorry for the large font of "WRONG", I just wanted to make sure I got your attention and fully understand of what I am about to write today. If you are into "prosperity gospel", then this post is not going to please you, but you are very welcome to read it. I am NOT against rich people, I am against those who thinks/believes that Christianity is ALL about being rich, healthy, happy, no problem life.
READ THE BIBLE!
It is very important for every Christian to read the Bible and fully understand the Bible, experience it, share it and stop listening to the "all is good" preachers. They preach what YOU want to hear, not what YOU need to understand and know about God, his calling, his purpose, his mission, his everything.
The problem with Christian people these days is not the lack of praying, it is the lack of understanding the Bible. Christian people loves to translate the Bible according to their own understanding, not God's, not history, not facts. Though, it is true that God will gives us wisdom and knowledge, it is also true that the devils will pleased your brain and ears to hear what you wanted to hear or what you should not know about God.
The devil is your cheerleader and you are the player in the field who got hurt, bump and killed, because you are too prideful to humble yourself to seek God, his wisdom and to seek counsel from other people, those who actually knows more than you do.
The biggest problem these days that I have noticed is that the more the world is turning, the more advanced we get. People wants more and people are willing to get more in life, with whatever it takes to have it all. The pride, the fame, the money, the trend, the self pleasing moment, the things that is not important and essential in life, but we pursue them, in the name of goals, fulfilled life, better life. The problem is that we will never have enough of everything.
We, the Christians, take the blessing
and refused the cross..
THAT is the problem!
What is "the cross" in our life these days? Does it mean we have to literally carry a wooden cross everyday, everywhere? NOPE, even though there are some people who does that for their ministries and actually do good at it, just like
Arthur Blessit.
We don't have to be like him to fully understand the pain, the suffering, the important, the glory of the cross as a Christian. Cross could be our inside battle, our own useless mind/our addiction that we need to fight, sickness, struggles, pain, being honest in a dishonest environment, how to choose a righteous decision even when it is difficult, how to be patient with annoying people, how to deal with the death of our loved ones, how to deal with your family who hates you because you are a Christian, how to deal with bullies, etc.
Well, some of you will use this verse to ask my point ;
Jeremiah 29:11-
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope
and a future."
Yes and amen!
But, in order for us to get to the future, we must overcome our past and present life. During this time, we must be willing to let God do what He think is good for our future and that, my love, including trials, stretching, tests, sufferings and learning process. From sick-heal-hurt-heal- got the job-fired- got another job-in a relationship- broken heart- marriage- struggling for financial- not struggling anymore- struggling to have kids- then have kids- struggling as a new parents- proud parents- valley of life- top of the mountain- its an up and down-up again moments. In other words, God wants us to know that even though we might not think that a certain thing is important, but He might allow that in order for us to get a better life according to Him.
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)
Don't hate me for writing about it, JESUS said those words, so ask Him ;)
Why do we need to carry our cross daily?
Because for as long as we live, we will always face the devil, ourselves, other people who might be a blessing to us and many of them are not, other people who agree with us and disagree with us, circumstances, etc. LIFE happens DAILY and that is why we must carry our cross daily too. It is the requirement to follow Him. Every second of our life is a battle!
What does it mean to deny ourselves and carry our cross daily and follow Jesus?
How could we follow someone when we refuse to follow his footsteps? How could we follow someone if we only wanted OUR own ideas to be fulfilled? How could we follow someone if we do not agree with their teachings, requirements, vision and mission?. It is not about you anymore, it is about God.
Jesus' Journey is OUR journey.
"For whoever would save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." (Luke 9:24)
In order for us to fully understand verse 23rd, we must read the 24th. We will NOT be able to save our own life. We are human, we are limited, we are all sinful. I found this great paragraph about it:
"When Jesus set his face to walk the Calvary road, he was not merely taking our place; he was setting our pattern.
He is substitute and pacesetter.
If we seek to secure our life through returning evil for evil
or surrounding ourselves with luxury in the face of human need,
we will lose our life.
We can save our life only if we follow Christ on the Calvary road.
Jesus died to save us from the power and punishment of sin,
not from the suffering and sacrifices of simplicity for love's sake."
Do you know that the heroes in the Bible were all going through rough, painful, tests, suffering and trials, including and especially Jesus?
Do you understand that there are real Christians out there who are suffering daily because of their faith?
Do you know that there are real Christians who are praying, fasting, read the Bible faithfully, working hard, daily, and have no home, fancy clothes to wear, or even food to eat, yet they love and serve God with ALL that they have? So do not rush to assumed that these poor people must not pray hard enough, because some people might not have the luxurious and easy lives that you have, but they still love God with all that they have. Mean while, we might leave God if we are in their position, because we value God based on what He could give us.
Have you ever watched the children in Africa worshiping God in a roofless church, barefoot, walked for miles, with clothes that even your dog won't wear them? But, the joy, thankful hearts and hope on their face are mighty luxurious in God's eyes.
Have you seen the people who walk from city to city to share the gospels using their feet or public transportation that takes hours to wait, or their own car that you will not even drive for one block because it is so bad?
Have you seen people who are faithfully serving and loving God and others and have cancers? Just because some Christians are suffering with sickness, it does not mean that God does not love them, or they might be "cursed", or they might not visit a certain priest for healing, or they do not pray the "right" way, lack of faith, etc. YOU are NOT God, therefor, you are in NO position to judge their faith. Sometimes, God allows painful things in life so that we could see His strength, miracles, salvation and glory. I have experienced, seen and witnessed how people receive their salvation, miracles, glory through their sickness/painful event in life.
Have you known anyone who gives everything to God, and get fired from their jobs?
Have you seen the Christians who get persecuted and how they died?
Have you seen Christians who have to deal with divorce, rape and other painful events in life, yet they are mighty in God's eyes?
Have you seen Christians who have to witnessed the death of their own children in a tragic way?
Have you seen Christians who died because of their faith?
Think about it! Christianity is NOT only about give money to a charity and you will get money back. Give tithe and God will give you mansion. Pray only and too lazy to work, expecting others to pay for your own desires. Go to church and you will have no sickness in life, ever. Pray and read the Bible, and you will never face problems in life. Put the "holy oil" all over your head and you shall be healed.
Yes, "bad things" happened to faithful and righteous Christians all over the world and that does not mean God loves others more than He loves them. Have you ever think that God see them as stronger than others? God's favor is different to everyone. We will not be able to fully understand the why, what and how certain things happened in our lives. We just have to trust God and not losing our faith on Him.
Christianity is weak without evidences/facts of stories and testimonies from the Bible to this present days of those who suffered and yet victorious in Christ.
My love,
there is glory behind the cross
..(pain, suffer, trial, pride, self, sickness, death, etc)..,
there is victory because of the cross.
My point is that as a Christian, we will face struggling, troubles, problems, pain and dark moments. Life happens and the devil also exists. We will make stupid choices that lead us to temptation and crappy life. But, God will be with us, always and forever til' the end. That's what keep us going. God, Himself, NOT because of what he could give to us or what he could do for us, but because of WHO HE IS as GOD!
Being a Christian means:
"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;" (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
"That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:10-11)
"Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day!" (1 Corinthians 15:30-31)
"As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. " (2 Corinthians 6:9-10)
"But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"" (Acts 3:6)
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11)
"We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute." (1 Corinthians 4:10)
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
"I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
Reminder:
Do not compare your life to other people's life, calling and purposes.
Never doubt God's love for you,
Never give up on God and yourself,
God is not for sale and He is not interested in your money,
Seek His face and heart, not only His hands.
Sometimes God allowed/use difficulties, suffering, pain, hurting moments
to teach us lesson,
to show us what He could do,
to show us the road to repentance,
to save us,
purify us,
win us over,
so that we know how to minister to other people,
who are also suffering,
and needs God in their lives.
Stop being so judge mental,
Stop being so "holy me, stay away from me you sinners" mentality,
Stop preaching the good times only and disregard the painful moments,
that makes us stronger,
and a better person,
today!
Keep the faith,
If your life is not as easy as your friend (or so you think),
Sometimes it is because of your choice,
circumstances,
BUT,
Many times,
it is because you are stronger than her.
She would not last one day in your shoes darling,
We will be just fine
LOL
;)
xoxo,
Lindsay
