The Cost and the Value

It’s one thing to give a part of you for someone else. Maybe time or money or opportunities in the name of love.

It’s another thing to give your life for someone you love – there are stories of great valor where one will give his or her life for many.

It’s quite another to go through something altogether different – something that hits you at an emotional, physical, mental level. That’s something more like what JC did for us: a grueling, unfair death preceded by mocking and unfair treatment:

But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
— Psalm 22:6

Distance. Pain. Loneliness. Separation.

What was the point of this treatment and death?
It doesn’t always feel like it, but there’s a value associated to us. To me and you.

Beyond that, Jesus Christ went through all that He did so that we wouldn’t need to. Alone. There will be suffering in our lives, but our victory outweighs the “pain” of this life. We’re now part of something bigger.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
— Isaiah 53:5

Our life is now tied to the death of Jesus Christ. And likewise our death (suffering, dying) is tied to the victory which is life in Jesus Christ.

It’s still all about Jesus Christ. And in Him alone can we experience the new that’s been gifted to us. Thanks be to God and Jesus Christ our Lord.

🙂

The Identity Crisis: Who Am I?

One of the great attacks the enemy has is keeping you from really knowing and believing who you are. Not who you even think you are, but the person you REALLY are. Do you agree?

Just Showing Up

I’ve been circling this thing for a while now. And I love the thought of it.

The power of the Christian in the world largely has to do with just showing up. That’s it. Just showing up. Wear a big nametag that says “CHRISTIAN” and that’s it. Just being there – and not even in some deep way, philisophical way, necessarily. You don’t have to have all the answers, or have your own life all together or any of that “good enough” stuff. You just have to show up. Just physically go there.

Don’t Change the Worst Parts of You – Become New

Something I should know, yet, had to “learn again”. It’s the lessons you learn along the way that leave an impact. It’s the journey, not the destination.

And Be Thankful

I love how God writes this in Colossians, almost sneaks it in – as a reminder, as a “don’t forget your coat” as you are running out the door on a cold day. Small, but important. Important, because it is important and is done as a loving act by someone who loves genuinely.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
— Colossians 3:15

In the context, God is making a very good case as to why one might “and be ye thankful”

How to Pick Yourself Back Up

The title of this post is actually a conundrum in that it’s actual not as much about “you” as it is about “Him” regarding picking up of oneself. It can be a riddle to think that you are able to pick yourself up. But, as with most things in life – there’s more to this than the surface appears.

Let me begin by first saying “It’s not about you.”

That phrase should bring one of two things:

1. Relief (“Ah, it’s not about me, whew!”) or
2. Anxiety (“If it’s not about me, how can I fix it?”)

I’m hoping both of these reactions can be addressed in the remaining content of this post.

Meeting the Needs – Doing Like Christ

The path to be like Christ has become somewhat unclear to Christians.

Becoming like Christ is a noble goal and something Christians everywhere should want to be like. Jesus Christ is our “measuring stick”:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
— Ephesians 4:13

That’s it, that’s where us Christians are headed to “a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. What a great vision for life!

But what does that look like?

Stop doing. Start being.

It’s time to change our thinking once again. You know how people can be busy and not really doing anything? Or, they can be busy doing something, but they don’t like what they do or they don’t really believe in what they are doing?

These, to me, are the doers. Now, the Bible talks about “doing” and it is a good thing:

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

Do-ers and not just hear-ers. That’s pretty clear. And I’m not disputing that. But there’s more to it.

Identifying with Christ

Because of Jesus Christ, we don’t have to be stuck with ourselves.

Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
— 2 Corinthians 5:17