Word Power –
Being
a Christian is a two-step process. The first step is to recognize that
God finds us acceptable. The time that we in the United Methodist Church
celebrate the good news of God unconditional grace, God’s acceptance of
us for what we are, and God’s forgiveness for our flaws, is at our
baptism. But, that is only the first step. The second step is claiming
that assurance for ourselves.
...each
believer must respond to God’s grace and stop focusing on himself or
herself and trying to seek out his or her own happiness, and instead
begin to concentrate more on loving and caring for others. This is the
secret ingredient to abundant living. This is the key to the Christian
faith. This is what it means to be a follower of Christ. This is what is
meant by the words “born again.” And this is what it means, in this
passage from Mark, to take up the cross.
Jesus
gets the conversation going by asking his disciples what everybody is
saying about him. The disciples answer him in terms of popular beliefs,
"Oh, Jesus, you know, some are comparing you to John the Baptist, or
maybe Elijah, or some other prophet." "Well, what about you guys. You know me by now. What do you think? What are you saying about me? Who do you tell people that I am?"
And
Peter, the one who was always looking for proof, always trying to find a
way to know for sure, comes to a crossroad point in his faith journey.
It is he who speaks for all of them...
.... finally
truly believing deep within the most secret inner places of his soul,
that Jesus is of God. He says, "You are the Messiah."
And
it is then that Jesus begins to explain what kind of Messiah he is.
Jesus tells them that he not going to be the popular hero. He is not
going the lead their country to power or military success. They aren’t
all going to become rich or famous. Jesus is not going to give them what
they think they need to be happy....
.
The way to fulfillment is not by saving your own life, but by saving
the lives of your neighbors. I will suffer and be rejected by the world,
and if you want to follow me, you've got to do the s. The way to
fulfillment is not by saving your own life, but by saving the lives of
your neighbors. I will suffer and be rejected by the world, and if you
want to follow me, you've got to do the same. You've got to quit thinking about what will make you happy....,
You've got to get your self out the way..., You've got to deny your self and follow me.
The
reason I continue to be a part of the church, even with all its flaws,
is because it is where this idea of following Christ is taught and
perpetuated. I believe I need to surround myself with other people who
proclaim Jesus as their Messiah because I have learned that the more I
focus on him—learning his ways and trying to think like him, act like
him, be like him—and the less I focus on myself...
We
are not our own; therefore neither our reason nor our will should
predominate in our deliberations and actions. We are not on our own;
therefore let us not propose it as our end, to seek what may be
expedient for us according to the flesh. We are not our own; therefore
let us, as far as possible, forget ourselves and all things that are
ours.
Our
self-help culture tells us that the way to be happy is to love
ourselves and focus on doing what we most want. But the church tells us
that the way to be happy is to deny ourselves and take up the cross.
.... , at the core of the church is always Jesus:
Jesus, whose teachings and actions flew in the face of popular culture.
Jesus, who issued a radical call.
Jesus, who has led us on a journey that leads to true joy.
No comments:
Post a Comment