This past weekend Pastor Gary challenged the people of New Life Community Church to step up, step out, and start following Jesus. Sounds easy doesn’t it? It’s deceptively difficult. Nothing about following Jesus is easy. When it comes to making myself AVAILABLE, when it comes to being FLEXIBLE, when it comes to SURRENDER, I struggle and struggle every single day of my life.
I think of Katniss volunteering to take her sister’s place. I think of Katniss, in that moment, determining the life of her sister was more valuable than her own. I think of Katniss, in that moment, arriving at the conclusion that regardless of her dreams, her aspirations, her needs, her desires…the LOVE for her sister far outweighed ANYTHING ELSE. Then I’m reminded of Christ’s LOVE for ME and how it surpasses any notion of measurement; that means it’s unfathomable, inconceivable.
It makes me wonder how many of us, follower of Jesus, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, neighbors…how many of us are willing to set ourselves aside and put ANOTHER first?
Would I?
Am I?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1 NIV
Primrose didn’t have a choice. She was picked. She was chosen. Her life would be unwillingly offered as a sacrifice. That ain’t right. God’s given us the gift/ curse of freewill. We HAVE a choice. We love him or we don’t. We follow him or we don’t. Unlike Primrose I choose to offer my life as a living sacrifice, as TRIBUTE, but I’m not trying to survive, I’m trying to die a little more with each passing day.
It’s all so HE can live through me.
So, what will you do this week? Will you simply go about business as usual or will you chase after Jesus? Will you settle for what’s on the television or will you get in his word?
Sacrifice or obedience?
I think of Katniss volunteering to take her sister’s place. I think of Katniss, in that moment, determining the life of her sister was more valuable than her own. I think of Katniss, in that moment, arriving at the conclusion that regardless of her dreams, her aspirations, her needs, her desires…the LOVE for her sister far outweighed ANYTHING ELSE. Then I’m reminded of Christ’s LOVE for ME and how it surpasses any notion of measurement; that means it’s unfathomable, inconceivable.
It makes me wonder how many of us, follower of Jesus, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, neighbors…how many of us are willing to set ourselves aside and put ANOTHER first?
Would I?
Am I?
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1 NIV
Primrose didn’t have a choice. She was picked. She was chosen. Her life would be unwillingly offered as a sacrifice. That ain’t right. God’s given us the gift/ curse of freewill. We HAVE a choice. We love him or we don’t. We follow him or we don’t. Unlike Primrose I choose to offer my life as a living sacrifice, as TRIBUTE, but I’m not trying to survive, I’m trying to die a little more with each passing day.
It’s all so HE can live through me.
So, what will you do this week? Will you simply go about business as usual or will you chase after Jesus? Will you settle for what’s on the television or will you get in his word?
Sacrifice or obedience?
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