Wednesday Wake Up #16

Just Because You Can....

I'm sure you have heard of that saying "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." We can apply that saying to so many different areas of our life, but there is one area it needs to apply to. It needs to apply to our walk with Christ. In Christ we have freedom from condemnation and from the death of sin (death in connection to God), but that does not mean that just because we can seek forgiveness we should just go and sin anyway?  I was confronted a couple of different times by an atheist and by an agnostic and they both said that since I can be forgiven by God, I should just go an sin intentionally or else I am wasting what Christ did on the cross. Wow. Seriously? What a ridiculous statement.  

First, I needed new people to hang out with. I needed new people to hang out with and as a Christ follower, I needed to be around other Christ following men. That didn't mean that I no longer spoke to those guys, but I need men in my corner who also follow Christ. If we look at Proverbs (great book) but specifically the wisdom contained within Proverbs 13:20, then we see we need to be around those who are wise. Not so much worldly wise, but also wise in the Holy Spirit so that he can assist me in my growth and I can assist him as well. If I am attacked by a man (or sin in this case) a brother in Christ can help me up if I fall and stand with me as we fight with the Holy Spirit against Satan's temptations (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
 

Man understands things a certain way and outside of the Holy Spirit they will not know what God has for them in life. Proverbs 14:12 tells us people think a certain way and think it is okay, yet they have no idea that death is inevitable in that way. Maybe you are so accustomed to being isolated. In isolation, no one can keep you accountable about the sinful ways that you succumb to. No one can love you in isolation. No one can hold you in isolation. While isolation may seem like it is "drama free" it is also void of love, accountability and growth. Just because it seems okay for you doesn't mean that God wants that for you.

A common thing I see is people who control others. They are always taking charge and always the boss. If they don't get their way they become the take my ball and go home type or the "it's my way or the highway." Not everyone, but there are those that feel like they should control what is going on. Why? It seems right to do so, but why? Is it a lack of faith in others to do their part? Is it to hard to trust others? Or maybe the faith that God isn't going to provide you with what you need? If we read the word we know that God provides for those doing His will (Philippians 4:19). It doesn't mean life will be perfect. There will be some bumps. That's life. But just because you are comfortable controlling everything doesn't mean that is how it needs to be or even what God wants from you. If you aren't asking for His guidance before and during a task, then that is part of the problem (Psalm 32:8). You need to submit to God's will and let Him show you what it is that needs to be done. Not just on the surface, but also on the inside of you. Your spirit is important and it needs to be in conjunction with God's will.

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John 3:36- Eternal Life or Wrath of God

Eternal Life or Wrath of God

Scripture is pretty clear...okay, no...it is VERY CLEAR on who Jesus was and what his purpose was. Scripture is clear on what happens when we believe in Jesus and what happens when we do not.

There are still many who believe Jesus was the Son of God but do not follow his example and do not accept him as their Lord and Savior. That is there choice. We as believers are not to force or condemn anyone. If they are to come to Christ, then that is a decision they must make on their own. Since Jesus is God in the flesh then wouldn't you really, really want to know what he said and follow that? In John 3:36, we read part of John's testimony of Jesus. John says, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." I would rather not have God's wrath on me due to my disobedience.

But where does John even get this idea from? He got it from Jesus. In John 3:14, Jesus is telling Nicodemus that "the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." This is reference is connected to Jesus being lifted on the cross. If you believe in Jesus as the Son of God then you will have eternal life. Jesus also says in John 3:5 that we must be born again of "water and spirit" or we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Think of birth and the water breaking before the birth of a child. Now, think of submerged water baptisms. You are submerged under the water and brought back up as rebirth with the Holy Spirit as you are expressing that you are a believer in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Jesus wants us to be born again in the Holy Spirit in order to be with us in the Kingdom. 
 

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Mark 14:6- Anointing of Jesus

Anointing of Jesus

In Mark 14:6, we get to see Jesus stand up for a woman who, in a sense, was being bullied by people. A woman used expensive oil and poured it over Jesus's head. It was used to anoint him, which symbolizes empowering, blessing and protection in religious ceremonies. Many were upset that she "wasted" the oil on Jesus when it could have been sold for 300 denarii (which would be worth today $30,000 USD).

What these men overlooked was their own selfishness. They overlooked what was being done for Jesus and thought of what they could have done with the money. I equate that to skipping on tithing because you would rather use the money for your own personal gain.

Jesus stood up for her and asked the men why they troubled/bothered her understanding that she did a beautiful thing for him. She did what she could to anoint his body for burial. Jesus is saying that he is going to die.

 Jesus knew he was fulfilling prophecies. He knew the role Judas would have and what part Peter would play. He knew that they would "not always have" him. He foretells his betrayal and his death on the cross.

Jesus knew what his purpose was and went through with it anyway. The more I read about Jesus the more my heart breaks for what our sin did to him. The more my heart breaks for how he was treated when he dedicated his life for us.

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Mark 10:45- Life as a Ransom

Life as a Ransom

James and John (two disciples) are asking Jesus if they can sit at his right and left hand. Didn't he just finish telling them and the other disciples (Mark 9) that it was not about earthly glory and accolades? It is about serving.

In verse 45 Jesus breaks down what his life means. He says that he came to serve not to be served. Now, right there can end the discussion. He focuses on meeting others needs over trying to fulfill our wants. Our wants can be very selfish, while attending to the needs of others if far more selfless.

The second half of verse 45 is where it gets even more real. Jesus tells them that even he came "to give his life as a ransom for many." Jesus dying on the cross for our sins freed us from the guilt and shame and eternal damnation of our sin. If you want to be free from sin's power over you, follow Christ and serve others. Recognize what his death on the cross meant for you and others and let that be your example.

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Mark 8:34-38- Deny Yourself

Deny Yourself

In reading through Mark 8, a few verses jumped out to me. But, there is one section that really strikes a chord with me. Jesus said many things through his time on earth, but we misconstrue, twist and manipulate what he said. Maybe we do it for personal gain or we do it because we are just confused.

In verses 31-32, Jesus foretells his death and resurrection, and then in verse 34, Jesus goes on to tell people that they must "deny themselves" and "take up their cross and follow" him. If you are to deny yourself, as Christ meant it, it means you are concerned with what God wants from you, not what man wants from you. Man's ways are flawed as they seek personal gain and self promotion (take a look at selfies and social media). If you are to deny yourself, you are not looking to fulfill your motives, you are looking to fulfill God's desires.

Taking up the cross was not an act that was applauded, it was a death sentence. You had to carry the very thing that was going to be used to kill you for your crimes. Jesus carried his cross but was not guilty of any crime. Are you willing to be mocked and ridiculed and falsely accused and persecuted and bullied for following Christ?

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Matthew 16:26- Take Up Your Cross

Matthew 16:26 "For what will it  profit a man if he gains the whole world & forfeits his soul?" commentary-  How beneficial is it have everything the world has to offer but never become who you are supposed to be? Jesus wants us to take up our cross and follow him. Taking up your cross meant (in his day) being willing to die a humiliating death. The cross is what criminals had to carry and later be hung from. Many of us aren't even willing to face questions about our faith so we sure would not be willing to die a  physical death. Christ wants total surrender.

Christ wants us to obey him. He doesn't want us to fall for the false teachings of Pharisees and Sadducees (verses 6-12). These were the religious leaders that sought obedience from people for their ways as opposed to God's ways. If we keep hanging on to our old lives and we don't die to ourselves (stop focusing on all of our wants and start focusing on God's) then how can we be useful for God?


For further explanation on taking up your cross, you can find this link useful: http://www.gotquestions.org/take-up-your-cross.html