Saturday, August 20, 2016

A Promise

In this day and age, the thought of giving your life for a cause can seem a bit out there. Suicide bombers, for instance, are regarded quite suspiciously. 
"What ever could bring a person to this point?" we wonder. 

On the other hand, we readily honor those who valiantly risk their lives to save another from peril, such as the firefighters at 9/11. We build memorials, and rightfully so. We inwardly wonder and even dare hope that we would do the same if ever confronted with such circumstances.

However being thus confronted turns out to be quite rare. I, for one, have not encountered a time when I could do something as bold and courageous as jumping into a raging river to save a child. Nor have I bravely faced a house ablaze, risking my own life to bring someone out to safety.

But years ago, I was confronted in another way.

Having given my life to Christ, He faithfully began teaching me exactly what that looked like. And He began meddling.


Luke 9.23 (NIV) - Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."  (emphasis mine)

There it was. A deep challenge, an earnest call. This was just me and Him. His quiet voice alone calling me to lay down my life, to die to myself, to let go of all I was, body, soul, and spirit. No one was preaching at me, sharing with me, nudging me. Just Him.

And no one else would ever know. There would be no glory if I did this; there would be no failure if I didn't. 

No one else would ever know - seemingly.


But in fact, the choice is on display everyday, for good or for bad. It is worked out in quiet ways, seen in small choices and large, in little things and grand. 

In time, a stigma of peculiarity akin to being "a bit out there" is attached to those who have agreed to give their entirety to Him. An aroma - a perfume, if you will - emanates from our daily living because an offer has been made and the promise is a good one: His life in exchange for ours.  He is now alive in us if we daily choose the cross, if we daily die to ourselves.

I never grow tired of this message. It has been for me a source of extreme joy and fulfillment, a paradox divine.
Give and receive. Die and live. Sacrifice and be fulfilled.
His life for mine. Holiness for brokenness. Joy for sorrow. 


Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.








10 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

christian louboutin outlet
ferragamo outlet
louis vuitton outlet online
cheap jordans
jordan shoes
oakley sunglasses cheap
cheap basketball shoes
polo ralph lauren outlet
ugg australia
converse outlet
cartier love ring
kate spade handbags
michael kors outlet store
louboutin outlet
michael kors outlet online
moncler outlet
burberry outlet canada
ugg pas cher
ralph lauren uk
gucci outlet online
hollister kids
christian louboutin sale
pandora charms sale clearance
kate spade bags
nike cortez shoes
coach outlet store
bottega veneta sale
ugg boots australia
fitflops shoes
ugg sale 2016
coach outlet online
uggs outlet
yeezy boost 350
pandora charms
discount oakley sunglasses
cheap air max
2016826caiyan

6:26 AM  
Blogger chenmeinv0 said...

adidas superstar trainers
cheap oakley sunglasses
timberland outlet
timberland boots
ugg australia
uggs outlet
abercrombie kids
adidas nmd r1
adidas nmd
adidas originals shoes
chenyingying20161022

3:39 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

michael kors handbags
gucci sito ufficiale
michael kors handbags
michael kors handbags
toms outlet
michael kors uk
converse trainers
broncos jerseys
michael kors handbags
birkenstocks

7:53 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

20170221 junda
gucci handbags
tiffany jewelry
pandora jewelry
ralph lauren uk
soccer jerseys
louis vuitton outlet
cheap nba jerseys
ray ban sunglasses
coach outlet online
michael kors handbags

4:35 AM  
Blogger John said...

michael kors outlet clearance
montblanc pens
air max 90
nike outlet online
coach outlet online
louboutin outlet
red bottom shoes for women
polo ralph lauren outlet online
nike outlet store
coach outlet online
chenshanshan20170303

3:40 AM  
Blogger caiyan said...

kate spade outlet
new england patriots jerseys
nike store
borse gucci
cheap jerseys from china
chaussures louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
kate spade outlet
ralph lauren outlet
nmd adidas
0508shizhong

1:33 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

reebok shoes
swarovski jewellery
louis vuitton outlet
michael kors outlet
longchamp outlet online
kobe bryants shoes
cheap ray ban sunglasses
air max 90
oakley sunglasses wholesale
ecco outlet
20170524ck

1:02 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

nike outlet
ugg boots
jerseys wholesale
nike huarache
kobe 9
michael kors outlet
pittsburgh steelers jersey
coach outlet store online
jordan shoes
ugg outlet
20170808

7:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

coach outlet online
ralph lauren outlet online
ralph lauren outlet
coach factory outlet
polo outlet
pandora charms
nike shoes
north face jackets
coach outlet
ray ban sunglasses
mt1031

2:52 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

jordans
tory burch outlet
mlb jerseys
cheap nhl jerseys
timberland outlet
canada goose
moncler
air jordan
nike air max
true religion outlet
201712.27wengdongdong

1:23 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home