There was nothing convenient about Christ’s death on the Cross – it was the ultimate of brutal and gruesome executions, the weight of past, present, and future sin – for you and for me.
It was 100% sacrifice, atonement, and suffering. Undeserved and unimaginable.
Yet, so many still beg for convenience over conviction and success over servitude and suffering for His Name.
They want a brand of Christianity that is palatable and doesn’t cost them anything significant.
Take up your cross, emulate Jesus, serve and love with abandon all while being anchored to the Truth. Spread the Gospel. That is what is asked of us.
We are naturally inclined to search for ways to follow Christ that don’t involve sacrifice. We try to cut corners and costs. But that isn’t the way of Christ – we are called to stretch our arms up in open-handed submission, pleading less of me and more of You.
Pour out my sinful nature and fill me with your Glorious Presence. Fill me with the identity of The King.
It isn’t a lukewarm, convictionless – some of me and some of You.
We can’t afford that.
We can’t afford to waste our one life that was bought and paid for by the BLOOD of the Most High.
We can’t afford to someday stand and give an account of our life with should haves and would haves.
As I’m typing this, my mind is awhirl with my shortcomings, oversights, and prideful omissions. The places I didn’t serve, I didn’t speak His Name, I didn’t take on the posture of humility and grace, the times I felt ashamed of sharing the Gospel and lacked courage and boldness.
Shame has a way of following you no matter how fast your feet hit the ground.
But I am constantly reminded of my son’s encouragement – Do it broken.
Don’t let the shame of your past dictate the posture of your heart now. Don’t let it curtail how you serve Christ now. Don’t let your imperfections disqualify you from surrender now. Act in obedience now. Let God’s Strength shine through your weakness.
Success isn’t measured by outcomes; it’s measured by obedience.
Do.
It.
Broken.
