HOLLAND: What does the cross mean to you?
Published 10:16 am Wednesday, June 17, 2020
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We used to sing a vineyard worship song whose chorus said, “Refining fire – our one hearts desire — is to be holy — set apart for you Lord — I choose to be holy – Set apart for you, my Master — ready to do your will.”
When a person accepts Christ, they make a holy vow of commitment to Jesus that promises they will never flirt, tease or engage in any type of romantic activity with sin.
It’s easy to sing a song, but are we really serious about our commitment and dedication?
What are we thinking when we sing songs like this? “Set a fire down in my soul — that I can’t contain — that I can’t control — I want more of you God — I want more of you God.” Do we really want to be filled with him, or just enough to make it to heaven?
Maybe we do not realize what salvation actually is. Matthew 16:24 is such a profound statement from Jesus and worthy of our highest consideration: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
The reality of us being lost and then being found is the greatest gift we could ever receive. However, being born again is not without conditions or accountability.
Redemption is entering into a marriage covenant with Christ and taking a holy vow to give ourselves entirely to him and to allow him to reign within us as Lord and King. We are to be completely sold out to him 100 percent. We are to be walking in his presence every moment. We are to be “living” in the holy of holies with him.
How many have a passion for this type of relationship? Probably not that many, which is why they call his followers a remnant.
Very few really want to be committed to this extent.
We are able to do whatever we want, and this means we can be as close to God as we desire. However, if we are not as close to him as we can be, something must be stopping us.
Is it a rebellious refusal to surrender our will to Jesus? Do we actually have a passion to become sanctified and holy to the point where sin makes us nauseated? Are we in control of our life or is our life in control of us?
Human nature has its own ideas about living for God, and the devil is always ready to educate us with his own distorted persuasions and influences.
There is only one throne upon your heart, and there can only be one of two possible kings who can be sitting on it: Jesus or Satan.
God is asking for all of us to look into the mirror and accept who is really the Lord of our thoughts and plans.
Are we willing to lay down our will so that we can embrace his? Or are we satisfied to leave our lives exactly as they are?
Today, if our life is not a representation and demonstration of the nature and character of God, then obviously Jesus is not ruling on the throne of our heart.
The cross is a symbol of death and hope all at the same time. Jesus died and rose from the dead, and likewise, our old nature must die so we can live as a brand new creation in Christ.
Read more at billyhollandministries.com.