"...Are you able to drink the cup that I drink..." Mark 10:38
I am sipping on coffee; thinking about this question above Jesus just asked two of his disciples! And no, Jesus wasn't referring to coffee or to any other beverage here! So what was Jesus talking about here? Why did Jesus ask his disciples this question?
I have always struggled with the idea of wanting to achieve success, glory, and fame in the shortest amount of time possible! Or with the least amount of work or pain in my life as possible. I don't know about you, but I have always tried to find short cuts to get where I want to be in life. I am pretty certain I can get a witness right about now! Yet, without fail, those short cuts often lead me into bigger problems or fiascos almost without remedy. Therefore leaving me with tons of damage; without any help (financially or emotionally) that I may need: to mend, fix, or restore!
However there is a way that God has planned out for me to take, and although His way may still find me in deep pits, in sufferings, in trials, and in a whole lot of other stuff that I don't really care much for. Yet I am learning that his way is the road to TRUE SUCCESS, glory, and honor! I find it refreshing that he offers this way - his way with REMEDY! With Help! With strength! And with his Power - His Spirit! I like to think of his way, as "The Cup of Christ"!
You see, in the traditional Jewish Passover, four cups are used. The first is the cup of sanctification, which recalls God calling His people to Himself and delivering them out of slavery. The second is the cup of plagues or judgment, reminding God’s people of the ten plagues in Egypt. The third is the cup of redemption and blessing. The fourth is the cup of praise and God’s kingdom. (source: Bible.org)
However, it was the third cup Jesus was referring to in Mark 10. The cup of redemption and blessing! James and John had asked Jesus if they could sit with him in his throne of glory, one on each side of Jesus. Sounds like 'blessings' to me, that they were asking for! On top of that - it also sounds like they wanted a short cut! All they could see was the glitz, glamor, fame, and glory of the throne of Christ! The blessings that would come out of it for themselves! Yet they couldn't understand that the Cup Jesus referred to would mean loving their enemies and bringing the gospel to people they had learned to hate! REDEMPTION! To drink this cup meant: to follow Christ wherever he may lead, and to be like him in any situation life may bring. To live a life of discipline! To live a sacrificial life for the sake of Jesus' name and the gospel that redeems!
When Jesus asked them if they were able to drink from this cup, he was essentially asking them:
Are you able to be just like me
Are you able to fulfill God's will like I have
Are you able to endure the price you will have to pay to fulfill God's will here on earth
Are you able to obey the Father as I will, and have, even if it cost you your life
Are you willing to endure the sufferings of Christ for the share of Christ's glory
And with such prideful arrogance they said, "We are able." Man what a cocky response!Yet they were right to some degree! Jesus ascerted that they would drink this very cup; yet they would endure whatever they needed to, not on their own, but with the REMEDY of Christ: His Spirit!
Therefore, I am challenged today to continue going on! To accept the afflictions that may come knowing that God is molding me to be more and more like his Son. Accepting that I have chosen to drink the Cup of Christ, and that whatever comes my way will not hurt my relationship with God; but strengthen me to continue to preach the good news with words, deeds, and lifestyle. Although not on my own strength, but with the REMEDY of Christ: His Spirit!
Therefore let us build each other up; learning how to be bold and effective as we witness for Christ no matter the cost! The Cup of Christ is the life of service unto God and those he places before you!
So the question I challenge you today with:
Are you able to drink the cup Jesus drank?
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Are You Being Trained...
Are You Being Trained By God?
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation...
Hebrews 5:8-9
As a mere man I find it challenging to read these words! But it also inspires, motivates, and activates me to understand why sufferings, or bad things happen to godly people. I can understand on some level why it may happen to those who are disobedient.
But according to this scripture above Jesus learned obedience from the things he suffered.
As Jesus was getting ready to make his entrance into Jerusalem. This was his last stop! He was forging ahead to what was awaiting him; he did so KNOWING that he would have to face his adversaries; he did so knowing that he would have to face his tormentors, his accusers; he did so knowing that he would have to face the greatest pain ever humanly felt, face agony, and he did so knowing that he would ultimately face death. That's incredible! Jesus, who lowered himself to a man, was going to face all this, and knew all about it before it ever happened; for you and I! I often think about the challenging things I am facing or will face, and when I do place thought to them, they usually pull me away from my path or destination!
Yet in Mark 10:32-34 we see Jesus valiantly leading, his disciples and those who followed him, straight up to Jersualem. His place of destination! The actual place where he would yield his life. The place where he would have to face all the shame, sneering, attacks, beatings, betrayal, and his death! However, knowing all this he never bolted from it; he never gave up the commission, he never walked away from the ministry and the call God had given him to fulfill. Why?
Because he knew his heavenly Father, (he had a continual-intimate relationship with God the Father), and he knew that God would raise him from the dead. Jesus knew the plans God had for him: plans to prosper him and not to harm him; plans to give hope and a future to Jesus and those who would believe in him! He knew that if he obeyed God even til death, God would exalt him to the highest place and give him the name above every name.
The challenege for you and I today: can we see passed the pain we may need to go through, passed the sufferings, passed the afflictions, and passed the hard disciplines we may need to endure; and see the prize God has in store for you and I? The Word of God says, we must run with perserverence the race marked out for us. How? By fixing our eyes, our vision, our mind, our very lives on Christ, so that just like him - who endured the cross, looked passed it all, to the joy of sitting at the right hand of God's throne. (His prize)! This is a hard thing...but with God all things are possible!
Therefore, we must become aware that the Lord disciplines those he loves...so let us endure the moments of hardship as our training discipline! Why? Because God is treating you just like his son. He is molding you into his image! What is the result of all this? What is the purpose? That we may share in his holiness and have righteousness and peace produced in us as we are trained by God's discipline! That as we share in his sufferings for his name sake, we too may share in his glory! He is causing all things to work together for good to those who love him, and to those who are called according to his purpose!
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation...
Hebrews 5:8-9
As a mere man I find it challenging to read these words! But it also inspires, motivates, and activates me to understand why sufferings, or bad things happen to godly people. I can understand on some level why it may happen to those who are disobedient.
But according to this scripture above Jesus learned obedience from the things he suffered.
As Jesus was getting ready to make his entrance into Jerusalem. This was his last stop! He was forging ahead to what was awaiting him; he did so KNOWING that he would have to face his adversaries; he did so knowing that he would have to face his tormentors, his accusers; he did so knowing that he would have to face the greatest pain ever humanly felt, face agony, and he did so knowing that he would ultimately face death. That's incredible! Jesus, who lowered himself to a man, was going to face all this, and knew all about it before it ever happened; for you and I! I often think about the challenging things I am facing or will face, and when I do place thought to them, they usually pull me away from my path or destination!
Yet in Mark 10:32-34 we see Jesus valiantly leading, his disciples and those who followed him, straight up to Jersualem. His place of destination! The actual place where he would yield his life. The place where he would have to face all the shame, sneering, attacks, beatings, betrayal, and his death! However, knowing all this he never bolted from it; he never gave up the commission, he never walked away from the ministry and the call God had given him to fulfill. Why?
Because he knew his heavenly Father, (he had a continual-intimate relationship with God the Father), and he knew that God would raise him from the dead. Jesus knew the plans God had for him: plans to prosper him and not to harm him; plans to give hope and a future to Jesus and those who would believe in him! He knew that if he obeyed God even til death, God would exalt him to the highest place and give him the name above every name.
The challenege for you and I today: can we see passed the pain we may need to go through, passed the sufferings, passed the afflictions, and passed the hard disciplines we may need to endure; and see the prize God has in store for you and I? The Word of God says, we must run with perserverence the race marked out for us. How? By fixing our eyes, our vision, our mind, our very lives on Christ, so that just like him - who endured the cross, looked passed it all, to the joy of sitting at the right hand of God's throne. (His prize)! This is a hard thing...but with God all things are possible!
Therefore, we must become aware that the Lord disciplines those he loves...so let us endure the moments of hardship as our training discipline! Why? Because God is treating you just like his son. He is molding you into his image! What is the result of all this? What is the purpose? That we may share in his holiness and have righteousness and peace produced in us as we are trained by God's discipline! That as we share in his sufferings for his name sake, we too may share in his glory! He is causing all things to work together for good to those who love him, and to those who are called according to his purpose!
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Wells of Water
by: Joe Herrera
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John 4:14 "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (NASB)
“Yield, surrender, and give yourself over to Me...” Is what I sense when I read this scripture above.
There was a time in life where I found myself feeling emotionally dry, relationally dry and spiritually dry. I was desperately seeking for that drink to quench my thirst. And good ol’ natural water was not going to do it! I tried to find that “drink” in my career and I couldn’t. I tried to find it in vain relationships and I couldn’t. I even tried to find it in money and success and I COULDN’T. And at the very point where I felt I couldn’t keep going on anymore in this dry desert called life…I found it, I found it!!! I found that “DRINK!” Only it wasn’t just a drink, but an oasis!
My Oasis: Jesus Christ!
When I found this oasis 2 years ago, I realized that I must continually let the water of Christ nourish and quench me so that I may receive His Love and ultimately share that love with others, which ironically gave me a sense of purpose and significance.
‘Til this day I continue to recognize and understand that people will grow in their walks with God and grow in godly love as you and I, children of God, demonstrate the Love of God to them. I must continue to let love grow within me simply out of the intimacy I share with Christ. I must let love flow freely within me so that those around me will be freely ministered to by the “Great Love” they see streaming in me. Our heart of Love is: A Heart filled with God who is our love and eternal life.
We must continuously come to Christ and drink the waters of love. For he is the image of Love. He is the water you seek for...The water of Love, is the water of Christ and the water of Christ are his very words inspired by His Spirit. Come to him and you shall be fulfilled with the love of God in Christ. The Spirit of Love is what He gives you...Eternal Life: Knowing God intimately...knowing who Love is: God Almighty. This is after all the message of God, which you may come to know who He is through Christ!
Yet, you must yield, surrender and give yourself over to Him so that you may receive the benefits of His love...His waters of Love which nourish you and sustain you...His Spirit of Love which quench the void you have felt many years passed. Come and yield to His well of Love...and you shall never regret the love He has for you, for he is the Love you seek… “I AM LOVE!” is His name!
Let love spring forth people of God and let love overwhelm you and overtake you. Christ is here to comfort you with springs of love...His eternal life is a life of TRUE LOVE! Come yield to His love…come drink His love...His Spirit of Love!
Come to the source of Love...He is the source of life...you may and can truly love as you are in Him…Husbands, the love you have for your wife and kids can only be demonstrated because of your life in Christ. Come and drink in His words of Love, His words of hope and life. Let His life in you be a perpetual spring of Love within you...let your fellowship with him lead you to love and give unto your neighbors, friends, enemies and families the love He has given you. Remember He is your well of love!
Abide in Him...people who thirst will come to you as they see the well of love in you. They will see the love of God within you as a source of life...a source of perpetuating springs of life and love oozing from you because of God living within you... They too will share in the glory of His love as you share with them the glory of His love through your life. You becoming a well that springs up to eternal life are for others to see and witness the power of God and that they too may drink from this well that springs up to eternal life and therefore becoming themselves wells of water springing to eternal life.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John 4:14 "But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." (NASB)
“Yield, surrender, and give yourself over to Me...” Is what I sense when I read this scripture above.
There was a time in life where I found myself feeling emotionally dry, relationally dry and spiritually dry. I was desperately seeking for that drink to quench my thirst. And good ol’ natural water was not going to do it! I tried to find that “drink” in my career and I couldn’t. I tried to find it in vain relationships and I couldn’t. I even tried to find it in money and success and I COULDN’T. And at the very point where I felt I couldn’t keep going on anymore in this dry desert called life…I found it, I found it!!! I found that “DRINK!” Only it wasn’t just a drink, but an oasis!
My Oasis: Jesus Christ!
When I found this oasis 2 years ago, I realized that I must continually let the water of Christ nourish and quench me so that I may receive His Love and ultimately share that love with others, which ironically gave me a sense of purpose and significance.
‘Til this day I continue to recognize and understand that people will grow in their walks with God and grow in godly love as you and I, children of God, demonstrate the Love of God to them. I must continue to let love grow within me simply out of the intimacy I share with Christ. I must let love flow freely within me so that those around me will be freely ministered to by the “Great Love” they see streaming in me. Our heart of Love is: A Heart filled with God who is our love and eternal life.
We must continuously come to Christ and drink the waters of love. For he is the image of Love. He is the water you seek for...The water of Love, is the water of Christ and the water of Christ are his very words inspired by His Spirit. Come to him and you shall be fulfilled with the love of God in Christ. The Spirit of Love is what He gives you...Eternal Life: Knowing God intimately...knowing who Love is: God Almighty. This is after all the message of God, which you may come to know who He is through Christ!
Yet, you must yield, surrender and give yourself over to Him so that you may receive the benefits of His love...His waters of Love which nourish you and sustain you...His Spirit of Love which quench the void you have felt many years passed. Come and yield to His well of Love...and you shall never regret the love He has for you, for he is the Love you seek… “I AM LOVE!” is His name!
Let love spring forth people of God and let love overwhelm you and overtake you. Christ is here to comfort you with springs of love...His eternal life is a life of TRUE LOVE! Come yield to His love…come drink His love...His Spirit of Love!
Come to the source of Love...He is the source of life...you may and can truly love as you are in Him…Husbands, the love you have for your wife and kids can only be demonstrated because of your life in Christ. Come and drink in His words of Love, His words of hope and life. Let His life in you be a perpetual spring of Love within you...let your fellowship with him lead you to love and give unto your neighbors, friends, enemies and families the love He has given you. Remember He is your well of love!
Abide in Him...people who thirst will come to you as they see the well of love in you. They will see the love of God within you as a source of life...a source of perpetuating springs of life and love oozing from you because of God living within you... They too will share in the glory of His love as you share with them the glory of His love through your life. You becoming a well that springs up to eternal life are for others to see and witness the power of God and that they too may drink from this well that springs up to eternal life and therefore becoming themselves wells of water springing to eternal life.
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