Are you willing?

[Poimen]

Our Lord said...

Luke 9:23-24
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 14:27
Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

______________________________

What are you willing to give up, change, add or lose in order to be more pleasing to God -- more like Christ?

We often argue and debate what is or is not permissible, and what is or is not expected of us as Christians here. But I just want to call us to genuine, personal, non-condemnatory, yet sincere reflection. What are willing to do, or not do, to be all that God calls us to be?

How sold out are you and I to the cause of Christ?

Do we love others enough to "eat no more meat as long as the world stands?"

Do we love God enough "to bear the reproach of His name, abstaining from the pleasures of sin for a season"?

Are we willing to be unpopular, criticized, persecuted, demeaned, defamed, and derided?

Do we love the world, even just things of the world, so much that they keep us from being all God wants us to be -- needs us to be, so the world can see and believe?

How's our commitment and relationship with the Lord? Does the fire of our first love need fueled?

Are you willing, whatever, whenever, however?

I certainly want to be. And I don't want to just say the words and have the willing spirit, like Peter, and then because of lack of discipline and devotion, through weak flesh, fail the Lord anyhow.

I know that's a possibility. And I know that Grace is there to catch me when that happens. BUT...

I want to live by enabling Grace that keeps me from that. I want to be a mature spiritual creature in Christ.

How about you?

[Dr. Ron]

I am willing to "become all things to all men that I might by all means win some".

I am not interested in being right in the sight of men, but rather point them to the saving grace of our Lord.

If that means "giving up ' something....no sweat.....
Remeber Jesus won more followers going where they were and being with them than showing himself to be "God in flesh".

[beckrl]

Bro. Chris

Well said...I once give up something that was very special to me. To give God that place in my heart and will again.