Taking Up The Cross
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose - Jim Elliot
What would you give to The Lord? Would you give your life?
For 150,000 to 160,000 believers every year, the choice is clear. To live wholly for Christ and to die for Him is gain. More than 200 million Christians in over 60 nations face persecution each day, 60f these are children. And just so that you dont get it twisted, the children refuse to relent their faith.
I just read courtesy of International Christian Concern that in Egypt that an elder sister had made a decision to follow Christ. She had converted from Islam. She was overheard by her mother speaking about this new found faith to her younger sister. The younger sister also became a believer. Rather than suffer the dishonor of having her daughter bring shame on the family because of her new found faith in Christ, the mother placed poison in the familys food. The mother reasoned that it would be better for her eldest daughter to die than to bring shame and dishonor to the family.
And a persons enemies will be those of his own household - Jesus
Courtesy of the Voice Of Martyrs, I read that in Pakistan there was a young women that would ride her bike and pass out tracks to people at the brick construction sites. The owner who was Muslim, told her that if she didnt stop something bas was going to happen to her. The young woman let it be known that she would not be deterred from the Lords work. One day she was kidnapped by the man and raped. He figured that it would humble her and bring this Jesus business to and end. It didn't. The young woman still boldly proclaims the Gospel Of Jesus Christ.
In Indonesia three Christian girls were beheaded. There names were Alfina, Yarny, and Tresa. One of them managed to escape although with a large scar from her ear to her throat. Her name is Novianna. The other three were her cousins. The three cousins heads were found in black bags in the woods. Just one month later International Christian Concern reported that two girls were shot in the head near a Church building.
These are but a sample of what is going on in the world today for most Christians.
In Sudan the most important question a young woman will be asked is this, are you a Christian or a Muslim? If the answer is Christian she is gang raped by 10-20 soldiers and left for dead having her breasts mutilated leaving her to bleed to death.
I know this is not feel good material. But like I said this is real. This is the faith walk that many have to walk and they walk it without hesitation.
And he who does not take up His cross to follow Me is not worthy me. He who finds His life will lose it and he who loses His life for me will save it. - Jesus
What would you give for the Lord? Will you give Him your life? See we have the misconceived idea that if we say a prayer that, that alone is giving our life to Him. It isnt is far more than that. It is dying to this world. Taking up the cross means death. Death in every aspect of living. Dying to society as it tries to exalt itself above the Lord. Dying to friends that aren't saved and do not understand your commitment to God. You pray for them but you dont let them pull you away. Dying to family that may mock or even ridicule you for your decision. Dying. Dying to life's ambitions that say that your life is made up of certain levels of accomplishments rather than a being made up of a solid, real relationship with the God of heaven and earth.
Dying to the fear of death. Fully taking the cross and going exactly where you are led to go. Denouncing the global value system that changes every 10 years and taking up the eternal value system that will not ever change. Dying daily to unhealthy desires that seek to enslave rather than grant the freedom that so many claim that it does.
Taking up the cross is having taken the Red Pill from Morpheus and realizing that there is no going back into the Matrix. It is a violent lifestyle that goes against the tide of every known human convention. Religion seeks to change man's appearance while the Cross changes mans spirit.
You want to find your life? Lose it. Lose it in God. Do it now. You dont have as much time as you think.
What would you give to The Lord? Would you give your life?
For 150,000 to 160,000 believers every year, the choice is clear. To live wholly for Christ and to die for Him is gain. More than 200 million Christians in over 60 nations face persecution each day, 60f these are children. And just so that you dont get it twisted, the children refuse to relent their faith.
I just read courtesy of International Christian Concern that in Egypt that an elder sister had made a decision to follow Christ. She had converted from Islam. She was overheard by her mother speaking about this new found faith to her younger sister. The younger sister also became a believer. Rather than suffer the dishonor of having her daughter bring shame on the family because of her new found faith in Christ, the mother placed poison in the familys food. The mother reasoned that it would be better for her eldest daughter to die than to bring shame and dishonor to the family.
And a persons enemies will be those of his own household - Jesus
Courtesy of the Voice Of Martyrs, I read that in Pakistan there was a young women that would ride her bike and pass out tracks to people at the brick construction sites. The owner who was Muslim, told her that if she didnt stop something bas was going to happen to her. The young woman let it be known that she would not be deterred from the Lords work. One day she was kidnapped by the man and raped. He figured that it would humble her and bring this Jesus business to and end. It didn't. The young woman still boldly proclaims the Gospel Of Jesus Christ.
In Indonesia three Christian girls were beheaded. There names were Alfina, Yarny, and Tresa. One of them managed to escape although with a large scar from her ear to her throat. Her name is Novianna. The other three were her cousins. The three cousins heads were found in black bags in the woods. Just one month later International Christian Concern reported that two girls were shot in the head near a Church building.
These are but a sample of what is going on in the world today for most Christians.
In Sudan the most important question a young woman will be asked is this, are you a Christian or a Muslim? If the answer is Christian she is gang raped by 10-20 soldiers and left for dead having her breasts mutilated leaving her to bleed to death.
I know this is not feel good material. But like I said this is real. This is the faith walk that many have to walk and they walk it without hesitation.
And he who does not take up His cross to follow Me is not worthy me. He who finds His life will lose it and he who loses His life for me will save it. - Jesus
What would you give for the Lord? Will you give Him your life? See we have the misconceived idea that if we say a prayer that, that alone is giving our life to Him. It isnt is far more than that. It is dying to this world. Taking up the cross means death. Death in every aspect of living. Dying to society as it tries to exalt itself above the Lord. Dying to friends that aren't saved and do not understand your commitment to God. You pray for them but you dont let them pull you away. Dying to family that may mock or even ridicule you for your decision. Dying. Dying to life's ambitions that say that your life is made up of certain levels of accomplishments rather than a being made up of a solid, real relationship with the God of heaven and earth.
Dying to the fear of death. Fully taking the cross and going exactly where you are led to go. Denouncing the global value system that changes every 10 years and taking up the eternal value system that will not ever change. Dying daily to unhealthy desires that seek to enslave rather than grant the freedom that so many claim that it does.
Taking up the cross is having taken the Red Pill from Morpheus and realizing that there is no going back into the Matrix. It is a violent lifestyle that goes against the tide of every known human convention. Religion seeks to change man's appearance while the Cross changes mans spirit.
You want to find your life? Lose it. Lose it in God. Do it now. You dont have as much time as you think.
posted by lazarus da new creation at 2:49 PM
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