Sorry, but the only clip I could found on Youtube of Jesus, I My Cross have Taken, a new song we'll be singing this week, was a mediocre quality video that was taken at the recent Resolved conference. You are still able to make out the melody and lyrics. Be blessed!
Jesus I My Cross Have Taken
There Is Higher Throne
Son of God
Power of the Cross
Saturday, July 5, 2008
06-29-08 Sermon Review
Zeal for His House
John 2:17
Being zealous, being passionate for Christ is not popular, not in the world and not even in the "Church." Actually, those in the Christian circles are most often the primary critiques of passionate followers of Jesus Christ. J.C. Ryle states that "Many would be ashamed to be thought zealous Christians. Many are ready to say of zealous people what Festus said of Paul: 'You are our of rou mind, Paul!' he shouted, 'your great learning is driving you insane' (Acts 26:24)." But this should not deter us from obeying the biblical call to be zealous for Christ's name.
There is a great problem within the Church that has been there since the first century. This problem is Lukewarmness. Now why would Lukewarmness matter at all in Christianity? What's the big deal about being lukewarm in the faith? These are the questions I would like to address today by looking into the Word and seeing what it has to say about "passion."
Passion is expected by Jesus Christ - The rebuke Christ gives to the Church of Laodicea should startle all of us. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth" (Revelations 3:15-16). Frances Chan, a pastor and well-known speaker at the Passion Conference, makes this startling conclusion from the verse just mentioned: "As I see it, a lukewarm Christin is an oxymoron; there's not such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are 'lukewarm' are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven." How can Christ expect such passion from His followers? There is such expectation because all of His followers are expected to love Him. Love in turn translates into passion.
Passion is directed towards Jesus Christ - I have a friend that my other buddies and I like to call Mr. Passion. When we would call him this, he would reply, "Passion without direction is pointless." There are many "passionate" people in our churches, but they are not the kind of passionate people Christ is looking for. The object of one's passion must be Jesus Christ. In our passage, it says, "Zeal for Your house has consumed me" (John 2:17). There was a specific object of Christ's passion, God's House. If someone were to assess our lives, what would they fill in for God's house? Maybe "Zeal for education has consumed me"; or "Zeal for money has consumed me"; or "Zeal for sex basketball has consumed me." How would others evauluate your life, what does your life say what the object of your passion is? We need to live lives that are so obviously passionate for Jesus that onlookers could only say, "Zeal for Jesus Christ has consumed him."
Passion is rewarded - We are not passionate for the sake of being passionate. The object of our passion is Jesus Christ, and therefore, when we are passionate, we obtain that which is the object of our passion. Christ freely gives the joy of knowing Him to thsoe who passionately seek Him. Those who are passionate zealously seek Jesus, not for money, riches, fame, but simply to hear, "Well-done My good and faithful servant."
As we look at this zealous man, Jesus Christ, let us remind ourselves that He was the perfect man, and we ought to emulate His zeal for the glory of God. We might be afraid of what the world might think us as we stir up our passion for Jesus Christ. The words of J.C. Ryle once again is comfort to us: "Don't let it bother you if you are sometimes called bigot, a zealot, a fanatic, a crazy person, and a fool. There is nothing disgraceful in these titles. They have often been given to the best and wisest of men." Of these is Jesus. He was called a blasphemer, a trouble to society. He was scorned and hated. He was in the end crucifed on a cross. This is where our passion will take us, to the cross of Jesus. But let us remember, we are in very good company. Stay strong and God bless!
John 2:17
Being zealous, being passionate for Christ is not popular, not in the world and not even in the "Church." Actually, those in the Christian circles are most often the primary critiques of passionate followers of Jesus Christ. J.C. Ryle states that "Many would be ashamed to be thought zealous Christians. Many are ready to say of zealous people what Festus said of Paul: 'You are our of rou mind, Paul!' he shouted, 'your great learning is driving you insane' (Acts 26:24)." But this should not deter us from obeying the biblical call to be zealous for Christ's name.
There is a great problem within the Church that has been there since the first century. This problem is Lukewarmness. Now why would Lukewarmness matter at all in Christianity? What's the big deal about being lukewarm in the faith? These are the questions I would like to address today by looking into the Word and seeing what it has to say about "passion."
Passion is expected by Jesus Christ - The rebuke Christ gives to the Church of Laodicea should startle all of us. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth" (Revelations 3:15-16). Frances Chan, a pastor and well-known speaker at the Passion Conference, makes this startling conclusion from the verse just mentioned: "As I see it, a lukewarm Christin is an oxymoron; there's not such thing. To put it plainly, churchgoers who are 'lukewarm' are not Christians. We will not see them in heaven." How can Christ expect such passion from His followers? There is such expectation because all of His followers are expected to love Him. Love in turn translates into passion.
Passion is directed towards Jesus Christ - I have a friend that my other buddies and I like to call Mr. Passion. When we would call him this, he would reply, "Passion without direction is pointless." There are many "passionate" people in our churches, but they are not the kind of passionate people Christ is looking for. The object of one's passion must be Jesus Christ. In our passage, it says, "Zeal for Your house has consumed me" (John 2:17). There was a specific object of Christ's passion, God's House. If someone were to assess our lives, what would they fill in for God's house? Maybe "Zeal for education has consumed me"; or "Zeal for money has consumed me"; or "Zeal for sex basketball has consumed me." How would others evauluate your life, what does your life say what the object of your passion is? We need to live lives that are so obviously passionate for Jesus that onlookers could only say, "Zeal for Jesus Christ has consumed him."
Passion is rewarded - We are not passionate for the sake of being passionate. The object of our passion is Jesus Christ, and therefore, when we are passionate, we obtain that which is the object of our passion. Christ freely gives the joy of knowing Him to thsoe who passionately seek Him. Those who are passionate zealously seek Jesus, not for money, riches, fame, but simply to hear, "Well-done My good and faithful servant."
As we look at this zealous man, Jesus Christ, let us remind ourselves that He was the perfect man, and we ought to emulate His zeal for the glory of God. We might be afraid of what the world might think us as we stir up our passion for Jesus Christ. The words of J.C. Ryle once again is comfort to us: "Don't let it bother you if you are sometimes called bigot, a zealot, a fanatic, a crazy person, and a fool. There is nothing disgraceful in these titles. They have often been given to the best and wisest of men." Of these is Jesus. He was called a blasphemer, a trouble to society. He was scorned and hated. He was in the end crucifed on a cross. This is where our passion will take us, to the cross of Jesus. But let us remember, we are in very good company. Stay strong and God bless!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Grace, Not Resolve
Fighting sin, that is what we'll be doing until the day Christ comes. The Bible sounds the call to passionately fight sin reminding us that no one will see the Lord without sanctification (Hebrews 12:14). But how are we to fight sin? We understand from the Bible that we have a responsibility not to sin. Yet, it is equally taught from Scripture that repentance from sin is a gift from God and therefore, man can not start his fight against sin apart from the grace of God. It is crucial that we understand these two points clearly, or we'll resort to unbiblical methods in our fight against sin and heap upon ourselves many griefs and troubles.
Recently in my fight against sin, I had resolved not to sin by setting standards for myself. For example, I told myself that if I sin a particular sin, I will incur upon myself a certain punishment and in the extreme case, tell myself that I am not a Christian. It was motivated by stories of passionate Christians who resolved to fight against sin with all their strength. I thought it was only right to have such high standards. I'm not saying this is completely wrong, but this method does steer towards legalism. The biggest problem in this method is that we often neglect the grace we need in fighting sin. This elevates our will above the grace of God. At the worst, it is a prideful rebellion.
What then, are we not to do anything? Of course not! This truth should liberate us from the tyranny of legalism, and free us into the magnificent wonder of God's grace. Yes, we are responsible, but apart from God's grace working in our lives, we will not win a single victory over sin. Therefore in our battle against sin, we need to remind ourselves that the battle is already won on the cross through the provision of God's grace! We are no longer enslaved to sin. We need to remind ourselves that salvation from start to finish is God's work, not ours. This is why God will receive all the glory for our salvation, all the credit. We do this instinctively do we not? When we see someone come to Christ, we thank God, not the man. When we overcome a sin in our lives, we thank God, not ourselves. Starting by reminding ourselves these powerful truths is the first step in effectively fighting sin in our lives.
Our primary weapon against fighting sin is the grace that flows from God's throne. The author of Hebrews tell us to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Let me repeat: God's grace is our primary weapon, not our resolve. It would do well for us to keep this in mind daily as we fight against sin. This does not mean that our resolve is worth nothing. God does want us to be resolved, be passionate in our fight against sin. But the kind of resolve, the kind of passion that God will not bless is that kind of resolve and passion that neglects His grace. Rather, God pities such resolve. He is like a man entering a battle by himself without realizing that the rest of the army is still at camp. God tells such a man, "come buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Isaiah 55:1). Let us make sure that we look to God's grace as our primary weapon against sin.
Let me close with the words of Jude's benediction which captures this thought so well: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24-26).
Recently in my fight against sin, I had resolved not to sin by setting standards for myself. For example, I told myself that if I sin a particular sin, I will incur upon myself a certain punishment and in the extreme case, tell myself that I am not a Christian. It was motivated by stories of passionate Christians who resolved to fight against sin with all their strength. I thought it was only right to have such high standards. I'm not saying this is completely wrong, but this method does steer towards legalism. The biggest problem in this method is that we often neglect the grace we need in fighting sin. This elevates our will above the grace of God. At the worst, it is a prideful rebellion.
What then, are we not to do anything? Of course not! This truth should liberate us from the tyranny of legalism, and free us into the magnificent wonder of God's grace. Yes, we are responsible, but apart from God's grace working in our lives, we will not win a single victory over sin. Therefore in our battle against sin, we need to remind ourselves that the battle is already won on the cross through the provision of God's grace! We are no longer enslaved to sin. We need to remind ourselves that salvation from start to finish is God's work, not ours. This is why God will receive all the glory for our salvation, all the credit. We do this instinctively do we not? When we see someone come to Christ, we thank God, not the man. When we overcome a sin in our lives, we thank God, not ourselves. Starting by reminding ourselves these powerful truths is the first step in effectively fighting sin in our lives.
Our primary weapon against fighting sin is the grace that flows from God's throne. The author of Hebrews tell us to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Let me repeat: God's grace is our primary weapon, not our resolve. It would do well for us to keep this in mind daily as we fight against sin. This does not mean that our resolve is worth nothing. God does want us to be resolved, be passionate in our fight against sin. But the kind of resolve, the kind of passion that God will not bless is that kind of resolve and passion that neglects His grace. Rather, God pities such resolve. He is like a man entering a battle by himself without realizing that the rest of the army is still at camp. God tells such a man, "come buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (Isaiah 55:1). Let us make sure that we look to God's grace as our primary weapon against sin.
Let me close with the words of Jude's benediction which captures this thought so well: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24-26).
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
What's Wrong with Prostitution?
Today, I watched an episode of COPS, something I haven't done in awhile. In the episode that I watched, the officer was arresting a women who was charged with "manifestation of prostitution." He apoke to the viewers matter-of-factly that prostitution was wrong. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not condoning prostitution, not at all. But it made me wonder: How do people without a bilical world-view say that prostitution is wrong? The answer is: they can't. Nothing tells us whether prostituion is wrong or right, in a naturalistic world-view anyway. I have spoken with quite a few people concerning this issue and the answer I have heard the most is that society determines for their time what is right and wrong. This answer does not suffice for a number of reasons, and I will try to post why it is not in the near future Lord-willing.
Thinking about how prostitution is deemed immoral in our society revealed to me some sad hypocrisy in our media and culture. When they tout tolerance and are fighting for homosexual rights, they pronounce judgment on the prostitute and scorn the polygamist. How do they draw these lines of right and wrong? If they are truly as tolerant as they claim and look upon the log in their own eye before blaming the Evangelical community for bigotry, they will see that they fail miserably in keeping with their own world-view. They should be fighting for prostitution rights alongside their pro-choice and homosexual rights campaigns. This is a reasonable conclusion to a naturalistic world-view.
Those of us with biblical world-view must continue to remind ourselves that right and wrong comes from the infallible God. He is the final authority. We must be carefuly that we do not fall into our own hypocrisy: knowing the truth while not living it. As we see the sad state of our culture, let us go to the Lord of compassion and ask Him to send workers into the harvest. Let us pray, "Your Kingdom come!"
Thinking about how prostitution is deemed immoral in our society revealed to me some sad hypocrisy in our media and culture. When they tout tolerance and are fighting for homosexual rights, they pronounce judgment on the prostitute and scorn the polygamist. How do they draw these lines of right and wrong? If they are truly as tolerant as they claim and look upon the log in their own eye before blaming the Evangelical community for bigotry, they will see that they fail miserably in keeping with their own world-view. They should be fighting for prostitution rights alongside their pro-choice and homosexual rights campaigns. This is a reasonable conclusion to a naturalistic world-view.
Those of us with biblical world-view must continue to remind ourselves that right and wrong comes from the infallible God. He is the final authority. We must be carefuly that we do not fall into our own hypocrisy: knowing the truth while not living it. As we see the sad state of our culture, let us go to the Lord of compassion and ask Him to send workers into the harvest. Let us pray, "Your Kingdom come!"
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Praise Songs for 6-29-08
Here are our songs for this weekend. Enjoy!
This Kingdom
Glories of Calvary
God of Wonders
Before the Throne
This Kingdom
Glories of Calvary
God of Wonders
Before the Throne
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
06-22-08 Sermon Review
The Sign for this Generation
John 2:12-22
We live in a generation where people will believe anything. But no one just happens to believe in Christianity. I have met so many people who would say that they want to be a Christian but cannot force themselves to. When I ask them what it would take to convince them fully, and they usually reply by saying they need evidence, a sign. We are no different from the unbelieving of Jesus' days, it is just that our speech has become a little more sophisticated. Instead of signs, we ask for objective evidence. Instead of miracles, we ask for verifiable facts. The answer Jesus would give this generation will be the same as the one He gave for the Jews of His day. Let us take a look at this passage together.
The Setting - After Jesus' first miracle and spending some time in Capernaum, He visits Jerusalem for the annual passover. Jerusalem would have been crowded during this time, as it was a convenient time for many to come and pay the temple tax which every male Jew over the age of 20 was required to pay. When Jesus arrives at the temple, He notices the money changers and the trading booths. This must have not been the first time He saw these services in the temple. Jesus most likely saw the scene many times.
The Scourge - When Jesus takes notice of these services, He deliberately puts together some chords. Jesus wasn't reacting out of uncontrolled passion, but rather a conscience direct zeal for the Father's house. The problem with the services in the temple was not that it was extorting the innocent temple visitors (though in the second occurence, Jesus points this out as well). The problem was that the temple was to be a hourse of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7). Yet the Jews have put the market place like scene into the temple grounds, most likely the Gentile Court where non-Jews were allowed to come and pray. This would hinder all nations from coming and praying to the Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus drives the sheep and ox out and overturns the money changers tables. As the Messiah, zeal for His house had to consume Him. This act was the first sign that Jesus gave to show He was the Messiah, cleansing the temple as the Messiah was supposed to do (Malachi 3:1-3). Jesus, in front of the many visitors that would have been piling into the temple courts, was making a very public testimony that He was the prophesized Messiah.
The Sign - Yet, this sign was not enough for the Jews. They respond to His zeal by asking for a sign to prove His authority. They were not interested in the message or true religion. They simply cared about authority validated by signs, signs that satisfied them. Many in our days are like this. Instead of heeding the call for repentance proclaimed in the Gospel, contemplating the truth of life and death, they demand from God signs to satisfy themselves. This is a sly way of saying that they are the final authorities. If God were to give thema sign they wanted, God's authority would be validated by the people's authority. It would make God their puppet. Jesus would do no such thing. Yet, Jesus did not leave them alone. What grace that Jesus actually did give them a sign! It is not that God is not willing to give a sign, it is simply that men are to sinful to embrace the signs that God has already given us.
Jesus points to the death and resurrection as the ultimate sign. God could do no greater thing to prove Jesus' divinity and His love for mankind but in Jesus cross and exaltation. It is no wonder that we, even almost two thousand years after the cross, still point back to the miracle of all miracles to validate the authority of Jesus' claims. This sign makes clear who the one with authority is, while showing this God's grace by giving to men a sure sign and secured hope. There is no greater sign than the resurrection, no greater proof of His love.
The Scriptures - What amazes me is the contrast between the true disciples and the unbelieving Jews. What sets the true disciples is that they believed, and the object of their belief was the Scriptures and the words of Jesus. The Apostles putting their faith into the Scriptures rather than the greatest sign of the resurrection says mountains about the reliability and the authority of the Scritpures! Where do you turn to when you need to be re-assured of Christ's love for you? Do you turn to Romans 8:31-39? I pray you do! Our faith should be on the solid rock of Jesus. Nothing more clearly points us there than the perfect Word of God.
So then, what sign will you ask for? What will it take for you to put your faith in Jesus Christ? What will prove to you the love of God for you? Only in the Scripture and in the death and exaltation of Jesu Christ will you find the rest of your soul's search. Come, come and enter the throne of grace and beholed the King. Find mercy and grace in time of need. See and taste that the Lord is good. Fall at His feet and adore Him, for His love for you is great. His nail-pierced hands and His wounded side that are still visible on His resurrected body proves it. Stay strong and God bless!
John 2:12-22
We live in a generation where people will believe anything. But no one just happens to believe in Christianity. I have met so many people who would say that they want to be a Christian but cannot force themselves to. When I ask them what it would take to convince them fully, and they usually reply by saying they need evidence, a sign. We are no different from the unbelieving of Jesus' days, it is just that our speech has become a little more sophisticated. Instead of signs, we ask for objective evidence. Instead of miracles, we ask for verifiable facts. The answer Jesus would give this generation will be the same as the one He gave for the Jews of His day. Let us take a look at this passage together.
The Setting - After Jesus' first miracle and spending some time in Capernaum, He visits Jerusalem for the annual passover. Jerusalem would have been crowded during this time, as it was a convenient time for many to come and pay the temple tax which every male Jew over the age of 20 was required to pay. When Jesus arrives at the temple, He notices the money changers and the trading booths. This must have not been the first time He saw these services in the temple. Jesus most likely saw the scene many times.
The Scourge - When Jesus takes notice of these services, He deliberately puts together some chords. Jesus wasn't reacting out of uncontrolled passion, but rather a conscience direct zeal for the Father's house. The problem with the services in the temple was not that it was extorting the innocent temple visitors (though in the second occurence, Jesus points this out as well). The problem was that the temple was to be a hourse of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7). Yet the Jews have put the market place like scene into the temple grounds, most likely the Gentile Court where non-Jews were allowed to come and pray. This would hinder all nations from coming and praying to the Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus drives the sheep and ox out and overturns the money changers tables. As the Messiah, zeal for His house had to consume Him. This act was the first sign that Jesus gave to show He was the Messiah, cleansing the temple as the Messiah was supposed to do (Malachi 3:1-3). Jesus, in front of the many visitors that would have been piling into the temple courts, was making a very public testimony that He was the prophesized Messiah.
The Sign - Yet, this sign was not enough for the Jews. They respond to His zeal by asking for a sign to prove His authority. They were not interested in the message or true religion. They simply cared about authority validated by signs, signs that satisfied them. Many in our days are like this. Instead of heeding the call for repentance proclaimed in the Gospel, contemplating the truth of life and death, they demand from God signs to satisfy themselves. This is a sly way of saying that they are the final authorities. If God were to give thema sign they wanted, God's authority would be validated by the people's authority. It would make God their puppet. Jesus would do no such thing. Yet, Jesus did not leave them alone. What grace that Jesus actually did give them a sign! It is not that God is not willing to give a sign, it is simply that men are to sinful to embrace the signs that God has already given us.
Jesus points to the death and resurrection as the ultimate sign. God could do no greater thing to prove Jesus' divinity and His love for mankind but in Jesus cross and exaltation. It is no wonder that we, even almost two thousand years after the cross, still point back to the miracle of all miracles to validate the authority of Jesus' claims. This sign makes clear who the one with authority is, while showing this God's grace by giving to men a sure sign and secured hope. There is no greater sign than the resurrection, no greater proof of His love.
The Scriptures - What amazes me is the contrast between the true disciples and the unbelieving Jews. What sets the true disciples is that they believed, and the object of their belief was the Scriptures and the words of Jesus. The Apostles putting their faith into the Scriptures rather than the greatest sign of the resurrection says mountains about the reliability and the authority of the Scritpures! Where do you turn to when you need to be re-assured of Christ's love for you? Do you turn to Romans 8:31-39? I pray you do! Our faith should be on the solid rock of Jesus. Nothing more clearly points us there than the perfect Word of God.
So then, what sign will you ask for? What will it take for you to put your faith in Jesus Christ? What will prove to you the love of God for you? Only in the Scripture and in the death and exaltation of Jesu Christ will you find the rest of your soul's search. Come, come and enter the throne of grace and beholed the King. Find mercy and grace in time of need. See and taste that the Lord is good. Fall at His feet and adore Him, for His love for you is great. His nail-pierced hands and His wounded side that are still visible on His resurrected body proves it. Stay strong and God bless!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
6 years from now
Recently, I had the privilege of attending my brother's graduation at UC Davis. I usually don't pay attention to graduation speakers, because most of them give advice that I wouldn't and speak through an abiblical world-view. My experience tells me so. But, that is not to say that there is absolutely no redeemable value in listening to them. So I stopped what I was doing on my laptop and decided to give the speaker my undivided attention. During the middle of her exhortation to the graduating class, she began speaking about a professor of medicine at UC Davis who decided to take a career change at age 36 after receiving tenure at at a pristegious university. The story has been on my mind since the graduation. At the high-point of his career, the professor decided it was not for him to be a scholar and to everyone's shock, enrolled in med-school because he heart for suffering children in Africa. A student asked him, "What was going through your mind." His answer? "6 years from now, I will be 42 doing what I love, or I will be just 42."
I have been meditating on that little anecdote for the past few weeks. I found that the story related well to our Christian walk. There are three points I was meditating upon as I reflected on this story.
Christians often make deicisions considering what is more productive rather than what is more pleasurable, biblically speaking.
Christians rarely consider what they want heaven to be like when making decisisons(i.e. if I do this, would God receive me by saying "Well done, My good and faithful servant" or would I be barely escaping through the fire?)
Christians forget that what is most pleasurable often requires hard-work and suffering; and is often contrary to our fleshly desires.
Was it not a radical decision when we decided to become a Christian? We decided to walk the hard road of life: to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. If someone were to ask us, what was going through your mind when you decided to become a Christian, would you say, "When I die, I will be dead and with Jesus Christ, or I will be just dead." I pray you have considered this road of the cross because Jesus is lovely. Indeed, He makes the dfiference between heaven and hell.
Six years from now I will be 29: still young but having lived over a quarter of a century. I pray the course that I am on will allow me to find my greatest pleasure in Jesus Christ. And if not within six years from now, in the day when eternal joy begins. I pray friend, for you as well, that you would find great pleasure in making much of Christ and you would decide to live making much of Christ. Stay strong and God bless!
I have been meditating on that little anecdote for the past few weeks. I found that the story related well to our Christian walk. There are three points I was meditating upon as I reflected on this story.
Christians often make deicisions considering what is more productive rather than what is more pleasurable, biblically speaking.
Christians rarely consider what they want heaven to be like when making decisisons(i.e. if I do this, would God receive me by saying "Well done, My good and faithful servant" or would I be barely escaping through the fire?)
Christians forget that what is most pleasurable often requires hard-work and suffering; and is often contrary to our fleshly desires.
Was it not a radical decision when we decided to become a Christian? We decided to walk the hard road of life: to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. If someone were to ask us, what was going through your mind when you decided to become a Christian, would you say, "When I die, I will be dead and with Jesus Christ, or I will be just dead." I pray you have considered this road of the cross because Jesus is lovely. Indeed, He makes the dfiference between heaven and hell.
Six years from now I will be 29: still young but having lived over a quarter of a century. I pray the course that I am on will allow me to find my greatest pleasure in Jesus Christ. And if not within six years from now, in the day when eternal joy begins. I pray friend, for you as well, that you would find great pleasure in making much of Christ and you would decide to live making much of Christ. Stay strong and God bless!
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