A Cross to Bear

Matthew 16:24-26

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁴ 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. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Luke 9:23

New King James Version (NKJV)

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.

Ask yourself a question; what kingdom are you building? 

I have to asked this question of myself constantly.  I find that even when I try to do good I fall into the trap of "look at me" rather than not letting my right hand know what my left is doing. It is so easy to go from love of God and others to love of self.  I have to remind myself daily, indeed many times a day that my life is no longer about me.  When I love my wife it is to the glory of God not angus. When I love my children it is to the glory of God not angus.  When I serve and love others or author a blog it is to the glory of God and not angus.  

The temptation is to think that when I perform some good that God owes me or that God belongs to me like some cosmic genie in a bottle awaiting my wish or command.  The truth is I belong to God and I am His servant, created to do His will.

Dear Lord I find it hard to die to myself daily, to take up my cross and follow you. Quicken me Lord for indeed my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.  I want to love you and others from a sincere faith. Let my heart break for what breaks Yours and let my heart rejoice in what You rejoice in.  Break me Lord.  Make me more like you no matter the cost.  You are my great reward, this world has nothing for me. In Jesus name amen. 

John 3:30

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease. 

But God

Ephesians 2:4-10

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.


But God. 
I should have been a statistic according to the world.   Son of an alcoholic dad. I should have followed in his foot steps, but God.  Dad murdered when I was 13 and raised by a single mother, I should have ended up in jail, but God. Married at 19 full of lust and an adulterous heart, I should have been divorced, but God. 

I don't care what the world says you should be or how you should act; you too can say "but God" if you place your faith in Jesus Christ.  He is rich in mercy and can give you beauty for the ashes in your life and joy and gladness for mourning.  You can overcome all things with Christ who loves you. 

Share your testimony of your "but God" in the comments. 

Revelation 12:11

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹¹ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Do You Love God?

John 14:15-18

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

 

 

It is always good to examine ourselves to see that we are in the faith.  One of the determining factors is our willingness to obey God.  Lots of people say the love God but they are unwilling to obey His commands.  We don't obey because we desire the salvation of our souls, but because we have been saved.  Then we display our salvation by our obedience to God. A person who loves God has a willingness to forgive, a love for other followers of Jesus, and a desire to obey all that the Lord has commanded.  

With our willingness and love for God comes help.  It doesn't take long to realize that we are powerless to do all that God has commanded when we rely on ourselves.  The good news is that Jesus promised He would send help and He has for those who have put their faith in Him and placed their love upon Him. The help is God Himself, namely the Holy Spirit.  He is our Help not only is He with us, but He is also in us.  PRAISE HIM. We have not been left orphans. 

John 15:12

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

Matthew 28:18-20

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The Heart Of God

John 3:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 


One of my prayers lately has been God give me a heart that breaks for what breaks yours and rejoices for what yours rejoices over.  I am seeing that God's heart is truly for people; your neighbor, the clerk at the store, the person on the street and the president of the fortune 500 company.  He loves them all enough to leave the comfort of heaven, suffer and die and rise again.  He also loves them so much that He now sends His church with His Spirit to show the same love and sacrifice.  Rise up church and seek the lost.  Go into the highways and byways and invite them to the Lord's wedding feast. 

Philippians 2:5

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

  

Matthew 9:36

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁶ But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary^[a] and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

God Forgives

Luke 7:36-50

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”


Oh that I had the heart of God.  That I could extend forgiveness and mercy.  That I would see the value of people like He does.  You truly are a great GOD!!

God's love. I had a discussion about forgiveness and how much God loves us and an illustration came to mind. My dad was killed when I was young, it hurt deeply.  The killer is in jail now for life.  In my heart I have forgiven him and I pray that he too would put his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  God's forgiveness and mercy goes so much farther than I could ever do.  You see His forgiveness would be like me taking my son to prison and exchanging him for the man who killed my dad and who hates me. Bring him to my home, clothe him, feed him and take care of him as if he were my son. Giving him all the privilege my son has. 

Understanding this helps me to begin to understand the depths of the love of Christ Jesus.  There is no one like our God. 

Romans 5:6-11

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

A House Of God

John 14:23-24

New King James Version (NKJV)

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.  


^{Your faith in Jesus has made you a temple of the living God.} 
Live your life like God is in you.

 ^{Not sure if anything else needs to be said.} 

 

2 Corinthians 6:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

 

God Is Listening

Psalm 34:4

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.

Christians we do not serve idols that can not hear.  We do not serve a god who does not take part in the affairs of men.  Nor do we serve a god who sits idly by while His children are hurting and in need.  Our God is a good God full of mercy and love.  His love knows no bounds and His mercy endures forever.  He spoke the world into existence. He parted the Red Sea.  He executed justice to the multitudes.  He provided for Himself a sacrifice for sin.  

When we were His enemies, He loved us still.  When we were lost in darkness, He provided a light.  When this world comes to an end He will take us home.   Praise be to the God who hears.  Praise be to Jesus Christ from everlasting to everlasting. 

Psalm 103

New King James Version (NKJV)

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
² Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
³ Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
⁵ Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
⁷ He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
⁹ He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
¹² As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
¹³ As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
¹⁴ For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
¹⁷ But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
¹⁸ To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

¹⁹ The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.

²⁰ Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
²¹ Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
²² Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!