Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Lets be worthy of Christ

I want to be worthy of Christ. All believers do. But what does that mean? In Matthew 10:34-37 Jesus said “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;  and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

Whoa! That is heavy isn't it? You have to love Jesus more then all the people whom you love and adore. You have to love him more then your job, your bank account, your hobbies, etc. In fact, take it up a notch and love Jesus more then your very self. If it were up to us, we wouldn't be able to love God, ourselves or anyone else for that matter the way the it is required from a believer in Jesus Christ. But its not up to us. Its up to how Jesus lived when He was on Earth. He lived a perfect life. He never sinned. His life and death were payment for our sins.

Would you, could you be willing to give up your own life for Christ? Not only by being martyred, but would you put your own agenda to death so that Christ may live through you? When the disciples were chosen, they gave up everything to follow Jesus. Families, businesses, friends, and the comforts of life. They all gave the life they knew so Christ could live through them and they gained Jesus when they transitioned to the next life. For me to live is Christ, to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).

It takes more then just praying the sinners prayer and getting baptized to be a follower of Christ. You have to follow him. In Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" To deny ones self is to deny the sinful nature of this fallen body and do what Jesus said to do. In Matthew 22:36-40 it says "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We cannot be worthy of our calling, we cant follow Christ, we cant pick up our cross and deny ourselves if we are not obeying what the Lord has told us to do. You know what? You submitting to the Lord doesn't benefit Him. He doesn't need any of us. But we need Him and we need Him desperately. Submitting to God only benefits the person submitting to the Lord God. This year instead of a new years resolution, I want to have a one word theme. I prayed and waited on the Lord and my one word theme for this year is OBEDIENCE.  If I obey, I will be worthy of Christ. I will love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind. I will Love others. I will deny myself and pick up my cross because I am obeying the Lord. I want to be worthy of Christ.

May God bless you!