Your VOLUNTARY Cross

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The principle of the Gospel is this. The gospel brings life to
the receiver and death to the giver. If the gospel brought death
to Jesus Christ, why would we think that in preaching the gospel
it would be any less for us.  Jesus said, "If anyone would
be My disciple, let Him deny Himself, and take up His cross and
follow Me." If it killed Him to give life to us, and in turn
invites us to do the same, why would we expect that it would any
less? The mixture of the gospel is life and death, laughter and
tears. Such as it is with us that live the common ordinary life.


This is what Jesus said about His Father in John 10:17, "The
reason My Father loves Me is is that I lay down My life, and I
take it up again, no one takes it from Me." Jesus was not
sentenced to die by His Father, He was allowed to choose. I
believe this is why He said "this is why MY Father loves Me. God
the Father had this extraordinary plan of winning us for all
eternity by having His Son killed. But His Son voluntarily
responded. It was not easy for Him to respond. In fact, He spent
His whole life by practicing, and even the night before it was
still difficult for Jesus. And He said, "God is there another
way, is there another way." By saying, "Father if it be thy will
let this cup pass from Me."


Many Christians today cry out for another way than the cross. It
is very easy to thoughtlessly say, "Yes Lord, I will pick up my
cross daily and follow after you." But that is short lived and
there was never a real willing heart to do so. They do not want
to deny themselves. They do not want to pick up the cross offered
to them. If the believer does not pick up their cross, then HOW
are they going to be real followers of Jesus Christ? One begets
the other. This is the "broad road" of "cross-less Christians."
They want a religious experience that costs them nothing, which
is why they give nothing away of themselves. Taking up your cross
is a voluntary as Jesus' Cross was. "As My Father hath sent Me so
send I you." If you have tasted the love of God. If you have
tasted of His sweetness at all, then there is no other way to
serve Him, but giving up your life. And this is voluntary. This
is not a sentence of death at all. We are not sentenced to death,
we are just privileged to answer His call. 


Contact: Website: https://www.joaniestahl.com/


Email: jsfieldnotes@gmail.com