A Lenten Reflection
The Cross and the Love
"People look for a degree of worldly comfort in Christ's service which they have no right to expect and, not finding what they look for, are tempted to give up religion in disgust. Happy is he who understands that, though Christianity holds out a crown at the end, it brings also a cross in the way." - J. C. Ryle:
There are many reasons people initially inquire about, and look into, Christianity. Some do so to fit in, with their family or friends, or perhaps the tenor of the community in which they live. Some do so expecting blessings and prosperity, or that God will smooth every path in their life. Some do so looking for something that will make them better than others.
All of those reasons will end up with either turning away from faith, or a dead faith.
While we worship as a body of believers, and the members of that body around the world (who truly believe) make up the Church, we do not get saved collectively. Our inner faith is not collective; it must be personal and purposeful.
God doesn't promise wealth and ease of life in this lifetime; indeed Jesus promises us just the opposite; that we will have trouble, and tribulations....there is a cross awaiting each of us who follow Him.
When we come to a true faith in Christ Jesus, when we are aware of our own sin and failings, we do not consider ourselves better than anyone else. For it was only through Christ's saving grace that we are redeemed...we have nothing to brag about except of His love.
When we seek Jesus for the wrong reasons, we can become disillusioned with how we think our lives are doing in contrast to how we want them to go. It is easy to throw up your arms in frustration when things are rough and say, "Well, what's the point of believing if it's not going to make my life easier? Where are you, God? What are you doing for me, to help me, to make things better?"
But God has already done His great work. He has provided the means of your salvation. He never promises this life will be without turmoil and hardship. He never promises you wealth and ease. He never grants you the right to feel superior to anyone.
What He has given you...is Himself.
He gives you the promise that He will not forsake you.
He gives you His peace in life's storms.
He gives you the strength to carry the crosses of this life.
He gives you a promise of what is to come.
He gives you His love.
And His love is enough. It is sufficient. It is overwhelming and wild, deep and incomprehensible. It is consistent even when we waver, His love is faithful even to our unfaithful hearts.
The more we know of His love, the more we see it all around. Not only in the Cross He bore, but in the crosses we are given, so that we may walk in His path. We see His love in the hearts of other believers, in the world He has given us, in the Word He has spoken to us through.
"Let me see thy love everywhere, not only in the cross, but in the fellowship of believers and in the world around me. When I feel the warmth of the sun may I praise thee, when I feel the tender rain may I think of the gospel showers that water my soul, when I walk by the river side may I praise thee for that eternal stream. Thy infinite love is a mystery of mysteries, and my eternal rest lies in the eternal enjoyment of it." - The Valley of Vision: Love (A Puritan Prayer Book)
His love abounds. May ours ever grow more like His.
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
The Cross and the Love
"People look for a degree of worldly comfort in Christ's service which they have no right to expect and, not finding what they look for, are tempted to give up religion in disgust. Happy is he who understands that, though Christianity holds out a crown at the end, it brings also a cross in the way." - J. C. Ryle:
There are many reasons people initially inquire about, and look into, Christianity. Some do so to fit in, with their family or friends, or perhaps the tenor of the community in which they live. Some do so expecting blessings and prosperity, or that God will smooth every path in their life. Some do so looking for something that will make them better than others.
All of those reasons will end up with either turning away from faith, or a dead faith.
While we worship as a body of believers, and the members of that body around the world (who truly believe) make up the Church, we do not get saved collectively. Our inner faith is not collective; it must be personal and purposeful.
God doesn't promise wealth and ease of life in this lifetime; indeed Jesus promises us just the opposite; that we will have trouble, and tribulations....there is a cross awaiting each of us who follow Him.
When we come to a true faith in Christ Jesus, when we are aware of our own sin and failings, we do not consider ourselves better than anyone else. For it was only through Christ's saving grace that we are redeemed...we have nothing to brag about except of His love.
When we seek Jesus for the wrong reasons, we can become disillusioned with how we think our lives are doing in contrast to how we want them to go. It is easy to throw up your arms in frustration when things are rough and say, "Well, what's the point of believing if it's not going to make my life easier? Where are you, God? What are you doing for me, to help me, to make things better?"
But God has already done His great work. He has provided the means of your salvation. He never promises this life will be without turmoil and hardship. He never promises you wealth and ease. He never grants you the right to feel superior to anyone.
What He has given you...is Himself.
He gives you the promise that He will not forsake you.
He gives you His peace in life's storms.
He gives you the strength to carry the crosses of this life.
He gives you a promise of what is to come.
He gives you His love.
And His love is enough. It is sufficient. It is overwhelming and wild, deep and incomprehensible. It is consistent even when we waver, His love is faithful even to our unfaithful hearts.
The more we know of His love, the more we see it all around. Not only in the Cross He bore, but in the crosses we are given, so that we may walk in His path. We see His love in the hearts of other believers, in the world He has given us, in the Word He has spoken to us through.
"Let me see thy love everywhere, not only in the cross, but in the fellowship of believers and in the world around me. When I feel the warmth of the sun may I praise thee, when I feel the tender rain may I think of the gospel showers that water my soul, when I walk by the river side may I praise thee for that eternal stream. Thy infinite love is a mystery of mysteries, and my eternal rest lies in the eternal enjoyment of it." - The Valley of Vision: Love (A Puritan Prayer Book)
His love abounds. May ours ever grow more like His.
On towards the Cross,
-Beth Haynes Butler
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