The picture shows a lush green forest of tall trees, things look fine, the smells of the forest and the green leaves and foliage. But there is an absence of animals, birds are not singing and it is very quiet.
Some days it doesn’t feel like we are making a connection with Christ. The day is carrying on as normal, but something doesn’t feel right. Especially the days were it is cold and the rain pours down, or there are just routine tasks to get done, or you just can’t get out and do anything. Does anyone else feel like this.
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”.
Matthew 10:38
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Luke 14:27
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
1 Peter 2:21
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
We are called to bare what ever suffering we are called to bare with joy. We can not put personal ambition before God. We can not put personal want for things before God. We can not put personal happiness before God.
When Jesus truly started to carry his actual cross, He was sure to have been in a sorry state physically, mentally any one of us might of felt abandoned – only later on the cross did Jesus cry out in anguish;
Mat 27:46
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
We are called to suffer for Jesus in joyous knowledge that God is there, He is comforting us, He has got a plan for our lives and in this times that we are called to suffer we must carry on praying, exhorting and thanking God because He has chosen each one of us, but we need to choose Him and let Him into our hearts.
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples
Jesus was prepared for His earthly ministry, God prepares. God has been preparing for a very long time. So do you think that God has not prepared you and me? We have enough within us with God to face anything that will come before us. If we feel pain for people, we feel pain because God wants us to act. He has prepared us to face these challenges, to face these challenging days. If we have a wonderful life at the moment then pray and help others today, now, because tomorrow there may be new challenges.
So with that thought I will pray for the suffering tonight and I will pray that God keeps opening our hearts to the worlds suffering. Though it will be painful, He wants us to act, and we must do so to be called disciples of Christ. I pray we all act and not fear what may happen as a result as long as we act in Love to our neighbour and Love God with all our hearts, souls and minds.
Amen
with blessings
Graham
365 Exhortations 