Examine Your Commitment
\nIn Romans 1 2:1\, Paul urges us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God. I therefore urge you\, brothers\, in view of God's mercies\, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are hol y and pleasing to God\, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship.
\nIn Matthew 16:24\, Jesus urges us to take up our cross and follow Him. If anyone wants to follow Me\, he must deny himself\, pick up his cr oss and follow Me continually.
\nThe cross is every trouble that fal ls upon us. Carrying a cross in Jesus' day meant facing the most painful a nd humiliating means of death. Jesus' call for us to take up our cross and follow Him today is a call to humble ourselves and surrender ourselves to His will. Absolute surrender to God means dying to self.
\nThe call to take up our cross is tough\, but the reward is beyond compare. Nothing in this world is worth passing up eternal life. I desire to walk in the s ame way Jesus walked\, be led by His Spirit\, and follow in His steps.
\nAre You Willing?
\nAre you willing to set aside your own self-c entered ways\, rights\, frustrations\, and offenses? Are you willing to le t go of anger and bitterness hidden in your heart that hinders the Love an d Life of God's flow through you?
\nIf you are willing\, that's all that is required. Be willing\, and God will do the rest. I pray that God w ill do this work because I can't. Truly giving up your inner feelings to H im results in peace and joy in your inner life and is reflected in your ou ter life.
\nPhilippians 3:7-15 Whatever things were assets to me\, t hese I now consider a loss for the sake of the Messiah. What is more\, I c ontinue to consider all these things to be a loss for the sake of what is far more valuable knowing the Messiah Jesus\, my Lord. It is because of Hi m that I have experienced the loss of all things. Indeed\, I consider them rubbish in order to gain the Messiah.
\nI don't have to \"feel\" li ke letting go of inner offenses\; I simply must be \"willing\" to give the m over to God.
\nIt isn't easy\, I know! But ask yourself: Are you h
appy with your relationship with God? Are you happy with your relationship
s with others? Are you content with all your circumstances? Do you have pe
ace and joy in your life?
\nIf you answer no to any of these question
s\, that will make you to a willingness to exchange this old life for the
new.
Old life:
\nPhilippians 4:31 Let all bitterness\, wrath\
, anger\, quarreling\, and slander be put away from you\, along with all h
atred.
\nNew Life:
\nPhilippians 4:32 Be kind to one another\, c
ompassionate\, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the M
essiah Jesus.
In Psalm 40:12\, David presents a frightful view of his sin: \"Innumerable evils have surrounded me\; my iniquities have overt aken me so that I cannot see. They are more in number than the hair on my head\, and my courage has forsaken me.\"
\nIf you find yourself undo ne by your trials and tribulations\, consumed by self-centered thoughts an d uncontrolled emotions. In that case\, you have lost sight of a Redeemer who has triumphed over your spiritual enemies. Seek God and love His salva tion. Rejoice in Him and praise His name. A prayer of faith can unlock His fullness to you. His promises are sure.
\nFather in heaven\, I choo se to set aside my thoughts\, emotions and desires to follow Your word\, Y our will\, and Your path for my life. Search me\, and know my heart. Try m e and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me\, and lea d me in the way everlasting.
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