Taking Up Your Cross

1 Peter 4:1-2 says – Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 

Here is what that means: As a Christian, you are to live your life for the will of God instead of human passions. In order to do that you have to stop the domination of sin in your life. To do that you must suffer in the flesh. And to do that requires a certain mindset, the same one that Jesus had.

Jesus was willing to do what it took to do the will of God. And that mindset leads to steadfastness in suffering. So, instead of turning to sin in your suffering, you turn to God, and thereby crucify your passions. It hurts, but it works. That’s what these verses are saying. Then instead of living for those passions, you live out the will of God. 

Jesus says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.”

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Discovering God

How you relate to others is a direct reflection of how you relate to God. Jesus said – This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. The Apostle Paul said – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Paul also said – For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

In other words, right now, in your relationships, you are treating others like you think God is treating you. So, if you want to stop the cycle of transmitting your pain onto others, you need consider how God reveals himself. Instead of processing your life in a self-informed way.

You discover how God is by understanding how Jesus was. Philippians 2:8 says Jesus humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. A loving, forgiving, obedient humility. That’s how Jesus was. And that’s what he wants to develop in you. 

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Hurt people hurt people

In Luke 6:21, Jesus said – as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. That’s the Golden Rule. You honor God by honoring people. But sometimes people turn the Golden Rule into a golden weapon, against God, and against people. Because they treat others like they think God treats them. Instead of treating others like God actually treats them.

How does God treat you? With love. Romans 5:8 says God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. And with forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 says that God in Christ forgave you.

God treats you like he wants you to treat others. And you treat others like you think God treats you. So, when you don’t understand how God actually treats you, and down in your heart you think that God doesn’t treat you right, you won’t treat others right. And the Golden Rule gets weaponized because you feel beaten down. And hurt people hurt people. 

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Do You, or Don’t You?

People are made in God’s image. Yet your lips can bless God, while also cursing those made in God’s image. James 3:9 says no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. This tells you that how you treat God’s image in others is a direct reflection of how you relate to God. Think about that carefully.

In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus taught us to love God supremely, and love others sincerely. He was saying that loving God rightly leads to loving others rightly. And how you treat others is a means of loving God, or despising God. So, do your lips say that you love God, while also saying you don’t? Maybe it’s time for all of us to confess our sin. And thank God for Jesus, who took our curses upon himself to save us.   

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Ask yourself three questions…

If you want to be sure that you’re heading in the right direction, ask yourself three questions…

Am I moving in the fear of God? In other words, if God was standing next to you, would he approve of what you want to do? If you don’t know, then don’t do it, because Romans 14:23 says if it’s not from faith it’s sin. 

Am I pursuing the filling of the Spirit? Is what you are about to do walking with the Holy Spirit? Or would it be walking away from the Holy Spirit?

Am I acting with a forgiving heart? Is what you’re doing consistent with the forgiving nature of Jesus? Because forgiven people are forgiving people.

Am I moving in the fear of God?

Am I pursuing the filling of the Spirit?

Am I acting with a forgiving heart?

If you’re walking the wrong way, turn around, that’s what repentance is. And faithful people are repentant people.  

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

Start Singing

What do you do in those moments of temptation, when sin feels like it is satisfaction, like it’s what you need? Here is what you need to do… sing praise and thanksgiving to God. I am talking about singing out loud.

Here it is, again: when you feel like sinning, start singing. Right then.

Now, when you first do this, it may seem like you’re dying. And in a sense, you are, you’re dying to self. Galatians 6:8 says – For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. In other words – You will either suffer the death of your flesh, or suffer death from your flesh.

In those moments of temptation, when you sing instead of sin, you’re saying no to yourself, and yes to God. It’s worship. And Psalm 50:14-15 tells you that if you offer up the sacrifice of thankful obedience, and call on God with your praise, he will deliver you, and it will glorify him. Amen. 

“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

The War Inside You

There’s a reason why you’re just a moment away from exploding. A reason why you think isolation is a good answer. A reason why you think something else is the problem. There’s a reason why you're so easily frustrated, so quickly annoyed, so often disappointed, so often offended, why people fail to meet your expectations, why you feel slighted, unrecognized, under-appreciated, and taken for granted.

The reason is always related to pride.

The remedy is always related to humility.  

The reason you have a war outside of you is because of the war inside you. There is something God is wanting to do inside you, and you are resisting, and so you have a war going on in your soul. With God. And that inner war comes spilling outside. James 4:1 tells you that the wars on your outside are caused by the wars on your inside.

Do you want to stop the war? Surrender to God. 

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Faith Will See You Through

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