A Daily Sacrifice

I had to apologize to God last night for forgetting what it means to be a Christ Follower. As favor begins to follow you, the moment unfavorable circumstances arise, you may forget that the word of God never promised life would be easy and always favorable. In fact, we’re called to not only share in Christ’s resurrection, but in His death as well. After all, there would be no need for resurrection, if death had not occurred in one way or another.

Colossians 2:11-12

11) In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12) having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

Daily we must sacrifice the desires of our flesh to submit to the will of God for our lives. 

Matthew 16:24-26

24) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25) For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26) What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

I know, it’s so much easier said than done, if anyone can attest to how difficult this can be, it’s me. Many may not like to admit it, but if you are the few who are willing, let me tell you that you’re not alone in your process of dying to self.

I believe as Christ Followers we will forever have to lose in order to gain. I mean that in the most spiritual way possible. I believe we will forever have to lose a little bit of who we think we are, as well as who we think we’re meant to become, in order to step into who God says we truly are.

I’m learning that life with Christ is a never-ending journey filled with unlearning what a sinful society has programmed us to believe. And in the unlearning, we find ourselves sometimes battling against the simple fact that our prior false knowledge provided more comfortability to our flesh, than our new found knowledge in Christ.

So yes, our journey with Christ will require us yielding to the process of God stripping us from all that is contrary to His will for our lives; from all that our flesh insists upon.

I’ve found that alone, and without reason, that being the fear of God, It’s quite impossible to deny the desires of your flesh. Knowing of our incapability to triumph over our flesh alone, the Lord left His spirit to guide, comfort, and encourage us. The word of God urges us to seek the face of the Lord when we’re feeling burdened, so that we may find that in Him, and through Him, His commands and expectations of us, are not too much for us to bear.

Recently, I have learned that what makes His yoke easy and His burden light, is our true love and reverence for Him, as well as our willingness to allow Him full control over our lives. It’s not that at times we’re not challenged by the desires of the flesh, it’s that we love and respect God too much to fall to such desires. 

Here is what I learned:

Temptation is a test of your relationship with God, not your own self-control.

Mathew 11:28-30

28) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29)Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”