You need to learn to separate yourself from unnecessary and restless thoughts which grow out of self-love. When your own thoughts ar set aside you will be completely in the middle of the straight and narrow path. You will experience the freedom and peace that is meant for you as a child of God.
Endure the aches and pains of your body with patience. Do the same thing with your spiritual afflictions (that is, trouble sent to you that you cannot control). Do not add to the cross in your life by becoming so busy that you have no time to sit quietly before God. Do not resist what God brings into your life. Do not resist what God brings into your life. Be willing to suffer if that is what is needed. Overactivity and stubbornness will only increase your anguish.
God prepares a cross for you that you must embrace without thought of self-preservation. The cross is painful. Accept the cross and you will find peace even in the midst of turmoil. Let me warn you that if you push the cross away, our circumstances will become twice as hard to bear. In the long run, the pain of resisting the cross is harder to live with than the cross itself.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
What Does It Mean to Be Radical for Jesus?
1. We believe in taking risks to serve Jesus. We don’t believe in church leadership as a profession, or in upward mobility.
2. We believe in setting aside our desires and resources for the sake of the needy. We don’t believe in the American dream or capitalism, nor in our own personal property or privacy.
3. We believe in accepting persecution for Jesus. We don’t believe in staying quiet or in remaining comfortable.
4. We believe in loving our enemies and accepting persecution. We don’t put any faith in violence, empires, or cultural prejudice.
5. We believe in Jesus’ community working together to create community. We don’t believe that any denomination or church has a monopoly on loving God.
6. We believe in Jesus’ return and rule over the earth. We don’t believe in preserving our life, but are holding out for the next one.
2. We believe in setting aside our desires and resources for the sake of the needy. We don’t believe in the American dream or capitalism, nor in our own personal property or privacy.
3. We believe in accepting persecution for Jesus. We don’t believe in staying quiet or in remaining comfortable.
4. We believe in loving our enemies and accepting persecution. We don’t put any faith in violence, empires, or cultural prejudice.
5. We believe in Jesus’ community working together to create community. We don’t believe that any denomination or church has a monopoly on loving God.
6. We believe in Jesus’ return and rule over the earth. We don’t believe in preserving our life, but are holding out for the next one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)