Archive for the ‘ Carry your cross ’ Category
O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
Isaiah 25:1, ESV
Like our God sacrificed His Son for us, we sacrifice time and pleasures for the ultimate pleasure of worshiping our Creator who planned our salvation from eternity past.
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:14, ESV
We crucify our own desires for the sake of our Lord and to look to the needs of others in love.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20, ESV
We are no longer our own. We have been purchased, redeemed, and our old self – with all of it’s desires and selfishness – was killed off on the cross with Christ.
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
1 Peter 3:13, ESV
We expect persecution and mocking if we follow Christ, but the worst they can do is kill us. If we die, we join Christ in glory.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1, ESV
We are not our own, bought with the blood of Christ. We ought to be laying our lives down to serve others in the love and Name of Christ.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1, ESV
It is not enough to call yourself Christian. If you are not seeking Christ and His Kingdom (and sharing the truth of the Gospel) you are in danger of showing you are not a Christian.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
James 1:27, ESV
Religion is not inherently bad.
Neglecting loving our neighbors, especially the least of these, is.
One simple rule in two parts: Love God by loving others.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Luke 9:23-24, ESV
If we strive for our best life now, it means it only gets worse after we die (i.e. Hell).
Jesus calls us to be servants, yes, possibly even doormats if that is what it takes to show the love, grace, and mercy of God to this world.
Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
1 Peter 4:16, ESV
Following Christ will lead to other people mistreating, mocking, or doing worse to us. We remember that this is how they treated Jesus our Lord, so we thank God that we are joined with Him in His plan of redemption of this world.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13, ESV
This life is not about us.
We have been freed to choose to glorify God and love others or remain focused on our own wants and desires.
This life is not about us.
a simple man of God 