Tag: Christ

Tasting Suffering

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And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10

How do you identify with Christ’s suffering?

Not a fun topic, I know.

Can’t we all just identify with his happy traits instead of his suffering or forgiveness?

Because Jesus came to earth fully human yet fully God, we can identify with Him when our humanness overwhelmes us.

When life on this earth is less than celebratory.

As mamas, we give our bodies over when producing life.

Our bodies are literally changed forever. Marked with our child.

Further, we give ourselves to them for care.

Whether a child grows within your body or heart, you are forever changed by that child’s mere existence.

Jesus gave his body for us.

He willingly gave up his body for our salvation.

Does all of human creation daily cry out songs of thanksgiving for His sacrifice?

Nope. Not even close.

How many have been lost, not clinging to God’s plan for salvation?

Not recognizing Jesus’ human suffering on the cross for us?

What does Jesus think when those who are lost come to mind?

When those who have rejected His sacrifice beg to do life instead all on their own?

He has compassion.

He sees them through love.

He still wants their heart.

And He doesn’t give up. Ever.

Mothers sometimes get the short end of the stick.

But when we do, we must look to Jesus’ example of love.

He keeps loving even when others don’t love Him back.

Even knowing some would reject His willingness to sacrifice for their eternal life, He still went to the cross for them.

As we keep walking forward during the more uncomfortable times of life, may we look to Jesus’ example and love all anyways.

Photos by Camila Damásio, Larm Rmah, JESHOOTS.COM, &  Aaron Burden on Unsplash

God or Our Flesh

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So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Romans 7:25

Can I get a witness?

So true, isn’t it? Our minds long to serve God, yet our flesh longs to serve sin.

Waking up every morning, we once again purpose to walk within God’s plan for our day.

Yet how soon does our flesh rise up to sin?

Reacting with a snarky comment to our spouse.

Thinking of our own needs first instead of others.

Allowing an anxious thought to take root in our mind.

Believing a lie about our identity in Christ.

Lying to get out of a sticky situation.

Ignoring what you know you should accomplish, indulging in your flesh instead.

Becoming grumpy pants whenever things are not going your way.

Dwelling in self-pity or poor me.

Worrying to the point of fear filling your mind.

When we participate with sin, we are serving the law of sin.

Ouch. Do you want to serve sin?

Heck no. I’m not sure we consciously say to ourselves we want to serve sin as we indulge with our flesh.

But that’s what we do when we sin. We serve it. We agree with it because we succumb to it’s temptations.

But God is on the throne, His power to withstand is available to us – we only need to ask and then stand firm. Again and again. And again.

Lord, help us to continue in the mind of Christ, instead of living within the sin of our flesh.

Fill us with your Holy Spirit and help us to remember You with every thought as we go about our day.

Cement in our hearts Your ways, Your peace, and Your presence.

May we long for You more than our flesh.

Only with Your power within us will we ever have a breath of hope.

You are above our sin and we are nothing without You.

You are our God, forevermore reigning for all of eternity.

We praise You for thinking of us, helping us, and wanting us to follow in Your footsteps.

May we live to glorify Your name as we serve you instead of ourselves.

Photos by Karsten Winegeart, Jessica D. Vega, & Silvana Carlos on Unsplash

An Example or Stumbling Block?

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Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Let yourself be an example instead of a stumble.

An example of Christ’s love instead of a stumble into sin.

Man, that’s hard.

Not always, but sometimes.

Actually, usually it is, am I right?

Especially when our flesh cries out for justice.

Or judgement.

Or pride.

Every time we succeed as an God’s example, we extend life to others.

And every time we succeed as a stumbling block to sin, we bring death to those same people.

So how do we become an example instead of a stumbling block?

Ask God.

All we can do is ask Him to help us.

When we are weak, He is strong.

God’s greatest examples are people who have no strength of their own to complete the tasks God had for them.

But that’s when God’s power shines forth the brightest.

Knowing we cannot without God is the first step.

Then choosing to let Him work through us is the next.

Let Him choose your words.

Let Him choose your actions.

And let His very nature flow through yours.

And when you do that, God will bless others.

Literally through you.

Quite an honor when you think about it.

Be stamped with God’s nature, and His blessing will come through you all the time. Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest reading May 16

Photos by Rachel and Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Power of Your Witness

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Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16

Are you so sold out for the cause of Christ that you minimize yourself?

You subtract your needs before others?

Are you so concerned for the love of God to flow through you that you put others before yourself?

Consistently?

Or are you still focused on number one?

Yourself?

And when it’s convenient, you put others before yourself?

This life is but a blip.

A drop in all of eternity.

Yes, God created us to live on this earth.

Yes, God created pleasure.

But is that your focus?

Is meeting your needs of comfort number one to you?

God’s greatest need from us is not preaching.

Dare I say most humans in at least America have heard it time and time again.

It’s serving.

It’s pouring out God’s love and mercy on our neighbors.

It’s literally being the hands and feet of Jesus.

It’s our witness.

When others see how different we are because of God,

When others see how much we care about them first,

When are a witness of the living God,

Hearts become open to God changing them.

So I must ask you this:

How are you helping people’s hearts to open?

Or instead, are you helping hearts to stay closed?

Photos by Hans Veth & Becca Tapert on Unsplash