Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24
Well, that's not a statement anyone who wants to pull crowds or wants to be popular or wants to be the darling of the masses would dare to make! Yet, Jesus did! There is so much of convenient and comfort preaching/teaching to please people and attract the masses in Christendom today that, this verse seems out of place. We may even dare to ask, wasn't there an easy way out Jesus? Wasn't there a more convenient or more comfortable path to Victory!
In this microwave generation of pop-in/out quick, in this vending machine culture of pop-in/out easy, have you been looking for a convenient time to Pray, go to Church, hear God’s Word, Pray, Meditate, Serve - all in all, follow Jesus?
Unfortunately, when something is too convenient it’s mostly too far from God!
Was there a convenient time for God to send His only begotten son to suffer?
Was there a convenient time for Jesus to carry the cross?
Was there a convenient time for Jesus to die on the cross?
Was there a convenient time for disciples to follow Christ?
If what we do doesn’t cost anything, then why bother? God is pleased in sacrificial offering of our time, talent and treasure. There is no perfect time/season to seek Him more, love Him more, serve Him more but NOW and right NOW especially, if it costs you something!
Waiting for a convenient time is only a deception to keep you away from the blessings. Without an arduous journey to Jerusalem, there is no Christmas. Without Good Friday, there is no Easter. I know it’s simple, yet true and powerful.
Is the path you are walking too hard, too difficult, too cumbersome, too painful, that's only a call to deepen faith as victory is near and the light is closer. God is not just waiting at the end with reward but HE is waking with you through it for He knows what suffering is. In the darkest moment/corner of life, when your eyes of the flesh can see nothing, would you ask God to open the eyes of your heart to experience HIM up, close and personal?
Would you ask Holy Spirit to teach you to discern circumstances of life with God's wisdom and understanding (Eph 1:17-18). Challenges, uncertainties, obstacles and predicaments are the training grounds for a Christian if we keep in mind that both the steps and stops of a Christian are ordered by the Lord! Step up, stop or step down, all work together for the good of those who love God and called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
May this day and this week bring abundance of God's blessings your way! When otherwise, train up yourself with inconveniences to endure and emerge stronger for this is the ONLY path for true and sustained Victory. Seek Him in the sunshine but seek Him even more in the darkness and He will be your light and make you the guiding light post for those around you.
That in essence my dear brothers and sisters, why we exist!
Simply be a light post glowing in His radiance and pointing the world to Christ!
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