Christian life or "your life as it is meant to be"

Matt:16:24

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me.

Probably the key verse for me about Christian life. It tells about man's fallen and wretched plight. Man is always self oriented and selfish. Therefore, denying yourself is proving that you love Jesus more than your own self. Declaring that God is more important to you than your own self. Your tiredness, your loss of wealth, your loss of privacy or me time - doesn't matter as long as the advacement of the kingdom is onward. If denying your desires and yielding yourself into God's hands entrusting Him to take you through the path which He has deemed best for you - he is the one who truly follows Jesus.

Jesus denied Himself for the will of the Father, for the better good. For our better good.

Take up the cross doesn't always mean persecution for the sake of the Gospel in the literal sense. In fact I believe, any trouble that comes our way, is because we are children of God. Because Jesus said, the world has hated me, so will it hate you too. A perennial health problem, poor financial balance, ridicule from friends because of your naivety, issues within the family - all might look as if it is because of your inadequacy. Don't point fingers.

Eph:6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Just follow me - just focus on the authour and finisher of our faith. Not on things around. But on the beautiful face of Jesus alone. And just follow Him as He guides.

This is the Christian life, NO..... The life that I desire. So help me God.

Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=man+carrying+a+cross

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Rest

Matt:11:28 Come to me all of you who are weak and carry heavy burdens, I will give you rest. Like John Bunyan's pilgrim, we too grope around with heavy baggages on our back. He has come to take away that heavy load and ease our souls. Jesus has come to give us rest. If only we would unleash the cords and give it over to Him. He will release us. For He has come to give us freedom. If only we would let Him. Such a bold and freedom ensuring statement only Jesus can make. For all the helpless. For all the tired and weak and weary. For all those who feel they are done with this life. Jesus promises unending rest. Image credit: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sleeping_lion.jpg

Wonders

Jesus did many wonders. 1. By demanding faith from the receiver's side. 2. Even without them asking. 3.He infact denied doing wonders and signs to prove His authority. He is Lord of all. He does all wonders and signs on His sovereignty. It is His choice. We can only ask for His intervention in our lives. We cannot demand for Him to work the way we want to run it. Who are we to demand? We should infact plead for Him to work the way He seems best. We don't know. But He knows. He being our Father, yet the Eternal Almighty God, He would do what is best for us only. We need to trust this. Image credit: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-miracles-did-jesus-perform.html%3famp=1

Defiles you

Matt:15:11 But what comes out of his mouth that is what makes him unclean. The words that comes out of your mouth, particularly shows whether you are clean or unclean. These words are powered by what you feed and in turn what is in your heart. From the overflowing of your heart comes what you say or what you do. Did we glorify God or defame God yesterday with our words? Claiming to be children of God, we have told words of faithlessness and unfaithfulness and anger and dissension and frustration. Words of faith come from and ever trusting heart and faith is the only thing that pleases God. If He has promised He will not leave you; that He will make everything for your good and that He will carry it on to completion; then He will do it for sure. Only if we believe it will we say words of faith and assurance. Otherwise our words will continue to be that of doubt and complaints and dissatisfaction. Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/...

Jesus is risen - a prose

So will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Matt:12:40 History proven With ample evidence Adequate eyewitness All ready foresaid in the past. By prophets who didn't even know Him personally His own audacious claim. Testified by His own common men disciples Transformation of lives, even now Seen by people in reality. In fact many at one point. Documented in ancient literature. Proven by adequate research. Beyond doubt. Does it make sense to you? Or does it not? But Jesus' resurrection - is true in my life. I choose to believe. Your choice is your will. He lives now in heaven. Seated on the right hand side of the throne. He dwells in my heart. More than a friend, He is. More than a soulmate He is. Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=risen+jesus

Parable of the fishing net

Matt:13:47-51 It was those fish who were caught up in the net that were sorted out. From that, the good were chosen and the bad were thrown out. There were other fish in the sea which were not caught. They are still in the sea. But those that were caught in the net, out of which the bad ones were thrown away. Those which show an affinity to the Gospel and still do not feel the need of a Saviour, who trusts on other means to save themselves, or those who do not pay much heed to it, are the ones who will be thrown away. For salvation, putting your trust in Jesus and receiving Him into your life is mandatory. No amount of church going, or word hearing will save you. When God looks at the fish, He looks not whether you are in the net or not. He only looks whether you are good or not. No one is good. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Only the righteousness which He imparts and imputes will make you good. Those that reject Christ and are in th...

Bask

How would you feel if after all the heavy input that you have given and the hard work you have done, the credit goes to someone else. It would be hurting and demeaning right? You deserved the appreciation, but all went to someone else who wasn't even in the picture. Even worse, Jesus would have felt, when He cast out demons, they were attributing it to satan instead of God's Spirit. A created being instead of the Creator Himself. The sworn in archenemy of God. A worthless being in comparison to the Almighty. How disappointing? God is not willing to share His glory with anyone else or anything else. Not because He is selfish or possessive. But because He alone is worthy. If it is given to any created being, even man, even yourself, it is disappointing. Glory belongs to God alone. Doing things for your own pride is like taking God's glory. How often have we done things and basked in the glory and appreciation that we would receive. We would say 'glory to Go...

Ignore

Matt:15:13-14 Jesus replied, Every plant not planted by my Heavenly Father will be uprooted, so ignore them. This is probably the key to joy. If you are a person who is affected by an irritating person in work place, or someone who is always there to bug you - ignore. Jesus doesn't tell you to hate them. Love them; but ignore them. Pray for them; but imbibe what is only productive criticism. Ignore so much that you are not affected by what they do. Why? Because you realise that if it is not planted by God in your life, then it will be uprooted. And if it is planted by God, intended by God to be there in your life, then it will stay. And all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Rom:8:28 God is Sovereign. He is good. He has plans to prosper you, not to harm you. The teachers of the law were always after Jesus and His disciples to find fault with Him, to the extent that that they wanted to annihilate Him. Jesu...

The halfbaked Bard

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