I Don't Believe It Was Comfortable For Christ Either

Well the ministry has been packed, coming out of the holidays and into January full steam. January's events are non stop: 5th Quarters, Youth Conferences, March for Life and the beginning of the GOSPEL Journey. Seems like every weekend is full….wait it is, lol! But something just hasn't felt right. Is it the new year or is it that we've become too relaxed? I'm not quite sure what it is but I believe God wants to shake us up a little.

Today I read a devotion by Oswald Chambers on obedience.

"If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight." Oswald Chambers http://www.utmost.org/  Jan 11, 2012

Do we find delight in obeying the Lord? The scripture with this devotion came from Luke 23.

Luke 23:26 As the led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon…, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.

To carry Jesus' cross, if you stop and think about this it's emotional. Take Simon's place for a moment: Pulled from a crowd by the soldiers, you're friends and family stand there devastated as the cross is placed on your back. Beside you is the Savior of the world, beaten and determined to go on He looks at you... I wonder what Simon was thinking? Was he worried about his family? His life? Wonder if he had the thought that he was helping crucify Jesus by delivering the cross? Or do you think he found peace and joy in carrying the cross for the Savior Jesus Christ as he brought glory to God through his obedience? I'll never know what was going through his mind but I imagine his life changed forever.

2 Corinthians 5:17 "….a new creation in Christ..."

What about our life? Has it changed forever? I wonder why we get comfortable sometimes; like we've taken carrying the cross and put it on cruise control or maybe placed it in a wheel barrow to make the load lighter. However you can think of it its like we become relaxed and we've made it easier. This reminded me of this cartoon illustration below.

Mark 8:34  Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me."

Endure the Cross and know God finds glory in our obedience. Don't make it comfortable so it pleases you and others, do it for God our creator.

Oswald finished his devotion with:

"We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief to the situation, but it will grieve our Lord. If, however, we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Psalms 34:14

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”