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

Comments

Love letter

My darling, I want you to realise how much I love you. I have expressed my love always and my desire is that you would understand the depth and height and width and length of my love. You are not alone. You are not an orphan to be left alone to chance. You will be well taken care of. Your very being is mine. You are mine. You are my precious little one. Though you feel alone, I am there for you. Do not feel that no one understands you. Do not feel that no one knows your plight or cares for you. I am there on your side. I have fashioned you by my hands. I have engraved you in the palms of my hand. You are so precious to me. Do not feel abandoned. Do not feel dejected. The truth is I am with you till the end of days. Whatever contrary to this, is a lie. Just know my presence with you always. Trust in me. I am your Father. I am your Husband. I am your Lover. I am your Friend. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I have loved you with an everlasting love. My love ...

Ashley

Dear Brother. Rest in peace. This life is small. Yet proved again. But you proved. Living for Christ alone matters. Trying to acquire skill And to use your well earned medical knowledge For the poor and needy. Your words still ring in my ear. "We are alone there" Brother gone too soon. Leaving behind a legacy. Well done good and faithful servant. Enough is enough. Come back and enter the rest planned for you. In His bosom, the classic smile I can imagine. Your laughter will surely resound in heaven today. There is rejoicing in heaven For a son has come back home. Fulfilling his Father's will for him Why should earth be gloomy? For he is home.

Distant destiny

It was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Jn:9:3 Who do you reflect? Whose work do you display? Bitterness, hatred, lack of love, unforgiveness, lack of joy, displays the work of the enemy. Selfcenteredness, motive of self gain shows the character of devil. God's character do you display? Unconditional love, love those who hate you, loving your enemies, considering others better than yourself. These are far from us. Why? We are still influenced by the world than the Word. We spend more time with the futile than the eternal. The Eternal God is still a distant destiny to be achieved, not a present reality to be indulged. There is no intimacy with the Father who longs to fellowship with you. Image credit: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/lunar-orbiter-1/

River

Rivers of living water will flow from his heart. Jn:7:38 This promise is about those who are thirsty, and they come to Jesus. They can come to Him only as a result of two realisations. 1. That they are thirsty. 2. That (only) He can quench their thirst. And as a result, not only would they be satisfied, but they would be a channel of quenching for others, who desire to come to Him. Rivers of living water will flow from him. The Holy Spirit will overflow though him. Out of the filling that he has received Do I desire the quenching only Jesus can offer? Do I desire the filling and overflowing of the Holy Spirit? Do I become a channel of peace for others? Do I point to Jesus, the source? Whether you realise it or not, whether you desire it or not, rivers of living water will flow from your heart. This is a definitive, affirmative promise of Jesus. The old has gone, the new has come. You are a new creation. You are a channel of blessing. God doesn't do mistakes. He w...

I was blind. Now I see.

One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see. Jn:9:25 No matter what explanations stand against the historical evidence, whether Jesus existed or not! No matter what explanations hold against Jesus' claim of His diety and His manhood! Born of a virgin. Did so many miracles. Died and rose again on the third day. Only one thing matters. I was blind. Now I see. Personally the bard's experience with the living Jesus, sustains his faith and hope in Him. Though the bard knows, historically all His claims are prophesies come true and whatever has been testified about Him in the Bible is true and authentic, more important is the fact that, the bard has personally experienced Jesus on a daily basis. That is enough. Not to be logically and scientifically be convinced. But to personally believe. That is the strongest testifier. That Jesus is alive. Seated on the right hand side of the Father. Continually working in you and through you and for you. To be honest Jesus is w...

Sin

Go and sin no more. Jn:8:11 Jesus came not to condemn you of sin; but to forgive. The woman caught in adultery did not deny her sin. She admitted. Therefore she went forgiven. What about the man involved? Where is he in the picture? He has never admitted that he wronged. Therefore he went unforgiven. He thinks he has escaped; he has fooled everyone. But the truth is - she remains forgiven; and he unforgiven. The instruction that Jesus gives after the forgiveness is to go and lead a life without sin. To lead a pure life. To take sin seriously and evade from it. How do you approach sin? Conceal it and you will remain unforgiven. Admit it and confess it, you will be forgiven. Once forgiven, avoid it and lead a pure life. Image credit: https://christourhope.blog/2020/01/31/lust-1-corinthians-618/amp/

#Iam the way, the truth and the life

I am the way, the truth and the life Jn:14:6 I am the way. I am the only way to reach unto the Father. I am the only way of salvation. I am the only way of forgiveness of sin. And without forgiveness of sin there is no access to God. I am the truth. I am the true God. There is no lie in me. Whatever I say is true. For my nature is truth. God is true. God alone is true. So when I say, I am the truth, it proves my diety. I am the life. In me alone is life. The abundant life which I promised is only through me. Unless you believe in me there is no part in the life that I offer. Living life to the fullest is only through me, because it is I who created this life. And I will enable you to live that life to the fullest capacity in this fallen world. Not only in this world, but in the world to come as well. Image courtesy: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/christian-bible-verse-way-truth-1740972008?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

The halfbaked Bard

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