Sight Beyond the Surface

Dare I pray against my will…

What if He answers me? What if He grants my request? Will there be pain? Will I suffer long? Will I know rejection and despair at deeper levels than I’ve ever imagined experiencing? Will my heart shatter into pieces? Will I hurt so bad, I long for the end of my life to come about quickly? Will I break apart falling to the ground, be buried in the soil, and die? These afflictions sound familiar to me, although not through any level of suffering I’ve personally endured.

…

John 12:23-26 But Jesus *answered them by saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

My home is my sanctuary. I sleep 7 hours per night in my warm bed. I thoroughly enjoy a hot shower daily. I am easily relieved of hunger more than once a day. I wear the clothes I want. I drive a car that suits me. Although giving ever increases in the Lord, still it hurts not. In fact, I love it.

Being cognizant of but a fraction of the afflictions of the persecuted Church in hostile nations, causes a growing consideration to interrupt my perspective on what in means to be a Christian.  The comfortable life is of zero value if its amenities have led one down a path of complacency. As a Christ follower, I must regard the infinite value of a life given over to suffering. 

Not all are called as physical martyrs for the LORD’S glory. But mental, emotional, and willful? How does authentic surrender to Christ unfold in the life of a wealthy (in comparison to worldwide population) western hemisphere Christian?

Observation: we were meant to live for so much more.

Matt 16:24-26 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

He summons. “Live for Me”. 

Phil 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Matt 6:25, 33 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 John 2:15-17Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷ The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

I thank God for the abundant temporal blessing in my life; however, I am increasingly compelled with the strength of the Spirit to cast aside the importance I’ve placed upon external accommodations. Effectively taking part in the Kingdom’s advancement in my, community, nation and global sphere of influence means utter interpersonal allegiance to Christ. Pursuing knowledge of Him by His Word, relational application, and prayer for the suffering in the Body of Christ and those who remain in rebellion to His offer of eternal relief through salvation by faith is vital.

His love is undeniably expressed by His inimitable sacrifice on the Cross. May my love for my God be made true by His Spirit enabling me to reflect who He is and why He came.

John 3:15-16 so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.