March 30th

March 30th  

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

We don’t really like reading that last half of the verse do we? We don’t like thinking about His sufferings or that we would need to share in those sufferings. But let’s think for a minute, what were His sufferings? Yes it was a severe beating and death on a cross, it was separation from the Father, it was confronting death and hell head on and coming out victorious, but, it was also surrendering His will to the Father’s will for our sake, it was being made to look like a fool in the eyes of the world, it was giving up luxury for humbler but better choices, it was being offended for the sake of the cross, it was choosing to not belittle others when He knew He could, it was speaking hard truths that would inevitably trigger backlash, it was fasting and praying when it wasn’t easy, it was ministering to others when it wasn’t convenient, it was loving others when they weren’t lovable, it was reaching out to the hurting when all He wanted to do was collapse in bed from exhaustion, and it was so much more.

We can’t die on a cross, defeat death and save the world the way He did, but we can do all those other things as a part of denying ourselves and taking up our cross daily to follow Him. We can surrender our will to His and reach others by following His example and directions. We can do all of those things without making a big deal of it. We can humbly walk in obedience and suffer for it.

2 Corinthians 6:3-10 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Romans 12:14-17 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Romans 12:19-21 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:38-45a “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.

These are examples of how we deny ourselves and take up our cross daily.

Jesus, thank you for suffering for me. Thank you for being willing to do what it would take to save me. Help me to be mindful of that daily so that I can keep my “suffering” in perspective. Help me to see beyond the moment and keep your big plan in mind. Holy Spirit help me to stay surrendered to you and not demand my own way. Help me to let you be my guide and my defense. Thank you Jesus, for everything.