Easter was just a few days ago and what's often overlooked each year? Christ set the example for us to follow. We're supposed to follow in His footsteps right?
He died. He was buried. He was resurrected and raised from the dead. Now He is alive at the right hand of the Father.
Now wait a minute. I'm not talking about following exactly Christ's example of physical death, I'm talking about dying to ourselves, burying our flesh, being raised up by the Father, and walking in the Spirit. Repeat. Every. Single. Day.
Sounds a bit morbid? I think the opposite is a much worse scene. I don't know about you but when I dedicated my life to Christ, I dedicated my life to Christ--I no longer own it. I told Him He could have me, do what He wanted with me, and use me for His glory.
Since when did the Christian life become about living to get married, having a comfortable job, having a few good kids, and growing old, drawing from your retirement fund? We crucify Christ daily unless we pick up our cross and bear the weight of it. We crucify Christ daily when we look Him the eyes and walk the other way. We crucify Christ daily when we ask Him where to go or what to do with secret intentions that He'll gratify our desires.
God is not a god of comfort. God is not a god of safety. God is not a god of gratifying the flesh.
No friends. God, my God, our God has the ability to love people so much they die to evil desires. Our God has the ability to raise up those same people into newly created beings. Our God has the ability to enter into those newly created beings and speak to them on a consistent and daily basis. When we refuse to die to ourselves we refuse to resurrect Christ in us.
One of the best quotes I know that sums it all up:
"I would like to suggest that the Church become a place of terror again; a place where God continually has to tell us, 'Fear not;' a place where our relationship with God is not a simple belief or a doctrine or theology, it is God's burning presence in our lives. I am suggesting that the tame God of relevance be replaced by the God whose very presence shatters our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within. The Church needs to become a gloriously dangerous place where nothing is safe in God's presence except us. Nothing--including our plans, our agendas, our priorities, our politics, our money, our security, our comfort, our possessions, our needs. Our world is... longing to see people whose God is big and holy and frightening and gentle and tender... and ours; a God whose love frightens us into His strong and powerful arms where He longs to whisper those terrifying words, 'I love you.'"- Mike Yaconelli
Trust the One who raised our Savior to also raise you. Resurrection is defined as this, "restore a dead person to life; bring new vigor to." In what areas does God need to resurrect you? Is it your actual faith?
He died. He was buried. He was resurrected and raised from the dead. Now He is alive at the right hand of the Father.
Now wait a minute. I'm not talking about following exactly Christ's example of physical death, I'm talking about dying to ourselves, burying our flesh, being raised up by the Father, and walking in the Spirit. Repeat. Every. Single. Day.
Sounds a bit morbid? I think the opposite is a much worse scene. I don't know about you but when I dedicated my life to Christ, I dedicated my life to Christ--I no longer own it. I told Him He could have me, do what He wanted with me, and use me for His glory.
Since when did the Christian life become about living to get married, having a comfortable job, having a few good kids, and growing old, drawing from your retirement fund? We crucify Christ daily unless we pick up our cross and bear the weight of it. We crucify Christ daily when we look Him the eyes and walk the other way. We crucify Christ daily when we ask Him where to go or what to do with secret intentions that He'll gratify our desires.
God is not a god of comfort. God is not a god of safety. God is not a god of gratifying the flesh.
No friends. God, my God, our God has the ability to love people so much they die to evil desires. Our God has the ability to raise up those same people into newly created beings. Our God has the ability to enter into those newly created beings and speak to them on a consistent and daily basis. When we refuse to die to ourselves we refuse to resurrect Christ in us.
One of the best quotes I know that sums it all up:
"I would like to suggest that the Church become a place of terror again; a place where God continually has to tell us, 'Fear not;' a place where our relationship with God is not a simple belief or a doctrine or theology, it is God's burning presence in our lives. I am suggesting that the tame God of relevance be replaced by the God whose very presence shatters our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within. The Church needs to become a gloriously dangerous place where nothing is safe in God's presence except us. Nothing--including our plans, our agendas, our priorities, our politics, our money, our security, our comfort, our possessions, our needs. Our world is... longing to see people whose God is big and holy and frightening and gentle and tender... and ours; a God whose love frightens us into His strong and powerful arms where He longs to whisper those terrifying words, 'I love you.'"- Mike Yaconelli
Trust the One who raised our Savior to also raise you. Resurrection is defined as this, "restore a dead person to life; bring new vigor to." In what areas does God need to resurrect you? Is it your actual faith?
