When we surrendered our lives to God, when we chose to follow Christ, when we said I no longer live but Christ lives in me, what rights did we release? Did you ever think of it? Jesus says come follow me, When we accepted Jesus' offer to take our place, what really happened? or as we surrender each day or season in our life what rights do we really surrender? Do you know What I am asking?
I am looking for your answers.
2 comments:
In a sense, you are asking "What does it mean to believe in Jesus?" Let me use an illustration that might help. Suppose you were driving down an unfamiliar highway and came to a bridge across a deep gorge. Before you crossed it, you'd want to ask yourself two questions. First, do I really need to get to the other side? And second, can I trust the bridge to hold me?
Now that's something like what you're asking I think. But let's go deeper Cindy. You see, we are separated from God, and the reason is because we have sinned. In other words, there is a deep gorge between us and God — one too big for us to cross. And yet we need to get to the other side, because we need God. We need His help right now, and we need His eternal salvation.
What we need is a bridge — and God has provided one, because He loves us! That "bridge" is Christ, who gave Himself to save us. Therefore, the Bible says, "he is able to save completely those who come to God through him" (Hebrews 7:25).
Does this mean sacrifices? Absolutely, and if you truly accept Christ, you accept everything that goes with knowing Him . . . including denying yourself and "taking up your cross daily." In Jesus' day, a cross was a symbol of suffering, and we all have trials and afflictions that may be very hard for us to bear—even with God's help.
But Jesus meant something far deeper than this when He told His disciples to carry their cross. He said to them, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). In Jesus' day, a cross wasn't just a symbol of pain and suffering; it was mainly a symbol of death. What Jesus was telling them is that they needed to put to death their own plans and desires, and then turn their lives over to Him and do His will every day.
You see, Jesus doesn't simply call us to believe that He existed, or even to believe that He can save us. He calls on us to commit our whole lives to Him—to trust Him alone for our salvation, and then to follow Him as His disciples. He said, "Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27).
When I accepted Christ, I knew the sacrifices . . . I knew the persecution that I could face. But I also knew the reward and that I would not have to face any of it on my own. The Christian life is not an easy one, but it's the one worth living.
Thanks B for your insight.
I totally agree with you when you say that following Jesus is so much more than believing, becasue it is so much more. That is what this question is about.
I also like the Luke 23 verse you used ...aahh... or was that I don't like it. My isn't that a hard verse to follow - deny myself- that is what this is really about. When I surrender to God it is about denynig that i have the right to be thanked and apprieciated, success and wealth, peace and security, many friends and liked by many. and I can't say i always like it. but thankfully like you ended off it is all worth it - when we see and feel God so near and of course someday in eternity.
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