Your Cross on Your Shoulder?

Your Cross on Your Shoulder?

by David Brenneman 

"The darker the darkness, the brighter the light shines.

Institutions once considered stable and reliable have faltered. Trusted leaders have fallen from grace. The rule of law is being replaced by the rule of the loudest and most aggressive mob. What was once considered harmful or shameful is now celebrated as a source of pride. In short, there are days when it feels like the whole world is upside down." - devotional by Dr. David Jeremiah. 

This has been a really good devotional.  It's not mentioned in it yet but it's the crux of what it means to stand firm. 

We as Believers are told to do this. 

When the winds of change in the weather try to force people away from what's right in their lives by force they try their level best to push back. 

In our Spiritual life, standing firm, is what we're to do when the world tries to push us back.

It requires training in righteousness. 

It requires setting our feet to be an anchor point. 

It requires mental preparation for what's happening and what is to come. 

The whole armor of God isn't a suggestion. 

The Disciples asking Jesus how to pray wasn't just for them.

All that the Apostles taught and we read in the New Testament, at a minimum, wasn't for others, but was for all who are in Christ Jesus. 

We cannot only want the blessings of our God without going through what He says is necessary to achieve them. 

The risk is worth the reward in living life to please Jesus.

Paul considered all things as loss in light of the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus.  

How do you rate knowing Jesus?

How important is it to know about your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Proof is in the pudding used to be a catchphrase.  

In the last week, how much of your days, how much time in each day, was set aside for learning more about Jesus and your relationship with Him?

The days you have before you are a gift.  Any truly wonderful gift we are physically given we try our level best to not waste. But what about our Spiritual gifts?  What about those breaths that you are breathing?  What about that food you are eating? What about that time you have on your hands...are you using any of it in reading your Bible?  Are you having any deeply personal conversations with Jesus?

Perhaps...and it may be a leap to contemplate it...but what if Jesus walked up to you and wanted to talk to you.  Would you know enough about Jesus to recognize Jesus before having the first conversation?  

Having eyes to see and ears that hear...these are at the heart of a transformed life.  To Jesus: your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

Would your encounter with Jesus be as one standing before a stranger?  

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;

for thee all the follies of sin I resign;

my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me

and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;

I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;

if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I'll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,

and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,

and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,

I'll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;

I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:

If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

Re-evaluate and see if your cross is on your shoulder.

All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.