For the Sake of the Cross

" To enter upon such a life, seekers must be ready to accept without question the New Testament as the one final spiritual authority on Spiritual matters. They must be willing to make Christ the one supreme Lord and ruler in their lives. They must surrender their whole being to the destructive power of the cross, to die not only to their sins but to their righteousness as well as everything to which they formerly prided themselves....It is a hard way, but a glorious one. Those who have known the sweetness of it will never complain of what they have lost. They will be too well pleased with what they have gained."

-A.W. Tozer, excerpt from The Radical Cross

We live in a day and age where the Holy Spirit is calling many different people from many different walks and traditions to answer the cries to live a deeper life. This life is not one consisting of surviving until the next greatest encounter, but thriving within the heart of an infinite God. Somehow, throughout time and testing, Christians around the world and throughout history have not only looked into the eyes of persecution and desperation, but held hope steadfast and ready until their breath ran dry. This tenacity dwells within the almighty power of the Holy Spirit at work within the ordinary, therefore making our reality extraordinary! I believe we have lost sight of the one thing that holds our hearts and lives near, and that is the reality of the cross. This seems to have developed into a more charismatic term in our generation, however, it does not change the radical nature of it's power. When we submit our hearts and lives to the Lordship of Christ, the veil is taken from our eyes and we see clearly for the first time.  Somehow throughout the ages people from around the world have come together under the banner of Christ and the authority of God's word, eliminating denominational boundaries and class distinctions. We are the called and the redeemed. To live a life less than that is to deny the Lamb the rewards of His suffering. The beauty of the cross rests not only within it's implications, but within the reality that it bridged the gap between a sinful mankind and a perfect God.  To fall in love with Jesus daily through the power of is authoritative Word and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit should be the foundation for our lives. 

Ephesians 5:14 says, " AWAKE, O SLEEPER, RISE UP FROM THE DEAD, AND CHRIST WILL GIVE YOU LIGHT!" (emphasis my own)

The cross is calling a people to wake up and rise from the dead, that we will retain the light needed to take His Truth to the darkest parts of the world, both physical and metaphorical. There is not one human being that can honestly say they have never fallen asleep in their walk with Christ, the danger comes when the sleeper loses sight of the one thing that can save him: Jesus. There is more to life than doing internships and buying motivational t-shirts; or even going to youth conferences and living within the perfect community. It's about more than driving a dream car or owning the best mountain gear that is made. It's about more than moving to the one place in the world where the best church seems to be, or more than the next greatest church scandal. It's even about more than yourself, it's about Christ and His heart for the world.  Though it seems as though there is no gaurantee for the future right now, take heart church, my people, my family, that though the world seems to fall into utter chaos, the God of the Ages sits upon the throne like He has since the beginning of time and beyond to judge this world righteously, and to take care of His own. He delights in His sheep, and feels the cries of a broken humanity. Remember, He is still GOOD. God is good! We serve a God who defies all natural and lives within the Truth of Himself to stand as faithful and indescribable!  Our message is not one of the uncertainty of life, but the inexpressible beauty and peace of the Jehovah Rapha, Yaweh, the God who saves. 

Hosea 7:6 says, " I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings."

We serve a God who wants more than visual representations of honor and glory, to know us, and incomplete and broken humanity.  When we lose sight of the cross, we lose sight of life. Galations 2:20 says, " For I have been crucified with Christ, that I no longer live, but CHRIST lives in me." This self-sacrificial abandonment to ourselves allows for Christ to radically change our hearts, that we may truly live and live abundantly ( John 10:10). His heart is to know you, and know you intimately. We must be willing as a people, as a church, to deny ourselves and take up this radical cross, not because we feel obligated, but because we are so destitute without Him, and in Him, we find true life. God Bless.

Soli Deo Gloria

" My prayer is not fro the world, but for those you have given Me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to You, and You have given them to Me, so they bring Me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to You. Holy Father, You have given Me Your name, now, protect them by the power of Your name so that they will be united just as We are...I have given them Your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I'm not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do  not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by Your truth, teach them Your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by Your truth." John 17:9-19