Through the Bible - Judges 11-12, Luke 9:28-62
Good morning,
If you've been following the read through the Bible plan above, you read the following verse yesterday. It was very fitting leading up to a Maundy Thursday or Good Friday service.
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. NKJV
Whether you went to a service last night or you'll go this evening you will be reminded of Jesus journey to the cross and the things that he suffered for you and me. You may be overwhelmed by emotions of guilt but also of deliverance.
Some will read that verse and think that it means that they must pick up the burdens of their lives and carry them dutifully. But in Jesus' day when someone was seen carrying a cross they were looked upon as a walking dead man. For Christians, taking up the cross is signifying to the world that we are dead to the world and alive with and for Christ.
For today's verse we'll go to 1 Peter 2. Keep in mind that the author, Peter, had been an eye witness to the events. Think also of his failures, his denials, and also of the change, the power that he received after the resurrection.
How should we react when we realize, when remember what Christ has done, what He accomplished for us on the cross?
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. NKJV
or from the Amplified Bible
or from the Amplified Bible
1SO, SINCE Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God],
2So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills.
R. C. Sproul writes, "God has met us face to face in Jesus, and we can be assured that He will never leave the temple that He is building in His Son with us as living stones (1 Peter 2:1-11). Let us not take this truth for granted but draw near to Him in repentance and faith, asking Him to empower us for service. As we meet with others for worship, let us urge them to do the same that we might be a part of the holy temple that God is making His church to be."
1 Peter 4: 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. NLT
Learn to Think Like Him
4 Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.
You've already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it's time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don't understand why you don't join in with the old gang anymore. But you don't have to give an account to them. They're the ones who will be called on the carpet — and before God himself.
Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must), they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus.
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless — cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything — encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
(from THE MESSAGE)
(from THE MESSAGE)
No comments:
Post a Comment