Palm Sunday Followup

Hello again!

I was thinking again about Jesus going up the Mount of Olives. 

So the question is:  What did you change in your life between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday? What new thing did you commit to do? 

Did you fast from food so that you could read your Bible? Did you add family devotions? Did you cut out TV time so that you could read more of a devotion book? How about covenanting to memorize Scripture each week? 

Another way to put this is, what discipline did you do so that you were more disciplined in your time with God?

When we give up our time to make time for God in this busy world and culture, we set aside ourselves for God's use. We consecrate ourselves to Him. We say to God that He is more important that the schedule of our lives or in fact, the preference of our mind and/or heart. 

God becomes more important. We become less important.

As Jesus went over the top of the Mount of Olives, that is what he was saying. Jesus was saying that the road ahead of him was more important than what He COULD do. He could have stopped on the top of the Mount and glory could have filled the air as multitudes of angels filled the skies and heavens. 

That isn't what happened. 

He did the hard thing. He disciplined himself. He gave it all up. Himself. Completely. 

Wow. 

So when we come down from this time of setting ourselves in the backseat,  I realize you were only asked to do this for 40 (+6) days, the challenge is not to come down from the mountain and jump back into being the same person you were before the challenge. The challenge is to come down from the mountain and CHANGE who you are. Let the change, change you. Let the change become the NEW you. Jesus makes all things new because Jesus changes things. (I think I've heard that before!!)

So when you sat in the pew this past Sunday and you heard me talk about going UP the Mount and then going through the valley (Kidron) and then into Jerusalem, I was talking about the challenge that we made to God and how the ultimate end of that challenge is to let it change you. Jesus changes things. He sacrificed himself. We sacrifice ourselves for Him. 

Pretty amazing stuff! 

It is our choice what to do with the discipline we added to our lives. It is our choice whether to enjoy the mountain and then to do nothing with it, or to enjoy the mountain and then come down, sacrifice ourselves (just as Jesus did) and, ultimately, to choose to die daily for Him. 

And that is a mighty choice.

A Plain Account

Bo Cassell writes a paraphrase of John Wesley's Plain Account of Christian Perfection. The two lists below are from that book.

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Here are a couple of areas that I find to be challenging and helpful and go with the holiness message that God gave for this past Sunday.

We have to be continually aware of our heart condition. It is easy to forget to evaluate where we are spiritually. Paul references these six areas that may draw us away from God, if we let them.

1. Conversations that don't build up others or offer grace

2. Falling back into bitterness or an attitude of unkindness

3. By rage, continually putting others down, lack of tenderness

4. By anger or lack of immediate forgiveness

5. By speaking harshly, or using rough, hurtful language

6. Speaking evil, gossip, hurtful stories, needlessly talking about the faults of another behind their back

 

My prayer this week for each of you is that we, as a church family, continue to hold ourselves up before God as the mirror of His image. That we continually be looking to be renewed into the image of God. That perfect image that at first may reflect with a "dingy" type of reflection but ultimately, through adopting His perfect love, an incredible, righteous reflection. The Imago Dei. The image of our God. Our Lord.

 

John Wesley gave advice on what to do to not only to walk with the perfect love of God in your heart, but also to grow in that love.

 

Advice:

1. Watch and pray against pride. (example, not willing to own up to our mistakes and faults)

2. Don't get carried away with excitement. Stick to scripture. Search them! Know them.

3. Don't sit and soak up God's blessings. Do something with them.

4. Sin of Omission - not doing something you know is right. Inviting people to church, telling them about Jesus, Be active in God's work. Do good. Live out Love.

5. Desire nothing but God. Deny yourself and take up your cross daily.

6. Build unity.

7. Be an example for others.

 

I have been thinking lately, and maybe I've already shared this, that it would be an honor that when I die this physical death, that as an epitaph the words "He Died Daily" would be true and valid for my life.

 

"Then he said to them all, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?" Luke 9:23-25

 

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