REFLECTION. THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY. THEME:-Take up your cross daily and follow Christ. Deuteronomy 30:15-20. Luke 9:22-25* Do you know the healing, transforming power of the cross? When Jesus predicted his passion his disciples were dismayed. Rejection and crucifixion meant defeat and condemnation, not victory and freedom. How could Jesus self-denial, suffering and death lead to victory and life? Through his obedience to his Fathers will, Jesus reversed the curse of Adams disobedience. His death on the cross won pardon for the guilty, freedom for the oppressed, healing for the afflicted, and new life for those condemned to death. His death makes possible our freedom to live as sons and daughters of God. Theres a certain paradox in Gods economy. We lose what we gain, and we gain what we lose. When we try run our life our own way, we end up losing it to futility. Only God can free us from our ignorance and sinful ways. When we surrender our lives to God, he gives us new life in his Spirit and the pledge of eternal life. God wants us to be spiritually fit to serve him at all times. When the body is very weak or ill, we make every effort to nurse it back to health. How much more effort and attention should we give to the spiritual health of our hearts and minds! What will you give to God in exchange for freedom and eternal life? Are you ready to part with anything that might keep you from following him and his perfect plan for your life? Jesus poses these questions to challenge our assumptions about what is most profitable and worthwhile in life. In every decision of life we are making ourselves a certain kind of person. It is possible that some can gain all the things they set their heart on, only to wake up suddenly and discover that they missed the most important things of all. A true disciple is ready to give up all that he or she has in exchange for happiness and life with God. The life which God offers is abundant, everlasting life. And the joy which God places in our hearts no sadness or loss can diminish. The cross of Jesus Christ leads to freedom and victory over sin and death. What is the cross which Christ commands me to take up each day as his disciple? When my will crosses with his will, then his will must be done. The way of the cross involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of laying down my life each and every day for Jesus sake. What makes such sacrifice possible and sweet is the love of God poured out for us in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle reminds us that Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). We can never outgive God. He always gives us more than we can expect or imagine. Are you ready to lose all for Christ in order to gain all with Christ? Lord Jesus, we give you our hands to do your work. We give you our feet to go your way. We give you our eyes to see as you do. We give you our tongue to speak your words. We give you our mind that you may think in us. We give you our spirit that you may pray in us. Above all, we give you our heart that you may love in us, your Father, and all mankind. We give you our whole self that you may grow in us, so that it is you, Lord Jesus, who live and work and pray in us.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 05:11:07 +0000
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