Dead to old, alive to new…

Today’s devotional offers a good illustration of what it means to be dead to my old life and living in the new. When I was a child, I loved to make little rooms in the forest beside our house, ride horses, play with our dogs, and play all day. I did not like housework, especially dusting and was not interested in cooking. But when I became an adult woman, my feelings were reversed and I enjoyed the things I once avoided and could not be bothered with the things I once loved.

In other words, I “took up the cross” to my childish play and no longer wanted to do those things. I became delighted in the pursuits of maturity and left behind the pleasures of childhood. While this is not a perfect illustration (I still love horses and hate dusting), it does illustrate what it means to take up the cross and die to my old life and live the new life.

Some Christians look at the Christian life as a child might view the adult life — thinking it means giving up the things they love and to do the things they hate. They call this “taking up the cross” and actually think God enjoys their grudging service. However, this idea totally misses what Jesus meant when He said:

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

When God saved me, I entered His family as a babe in Christ. As the Bible says, I needed to grow up through realizing the goodness of God. He is not a mean taskmaster:

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2–3)

Perhaps the problem with those who think that doing the will of God is “grudging service” that gives up everything they enjoy is that they have not spent enough time in the Word of God (pure spiritual milk) to taste His incredible goodness. Or it could be that they are clinging to the ‘playtime’ of their former life, preferring to stay in control of what they want to do instead of submitting to the good will of God. This submission is a choice — to turn from that worldly way of thinking and allowing God to transform my mind. In that process, I learn that His will is good, more than acceptable, even perfect.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)

As the devotional says, and as He is teaching me, if my affections are set on the will of God, I will love it. If I love it, then how can it seem a great burden? This means saying what David said and what Jesus repeated:

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. (John 4:34)

God wants me set on His will and delighting in it. This is possible as my new life in Christ changed my heart. I now recognize that I am dead to anything that is contrary to Jesus. This is my cross — that recognition that I am dead to the world and alive only in Christ. How heavy that cross can be is determined by how mature I am in Christ.

PRAY: Today’s ‘cross’ is being dead to my plans that I can do God’s will in taking care of my husband. His pain is severe and he cannot do small things, like pick up a dropped pencil or reach something at the other end of the sofa. I’m dead to my I-wants on my to-do list and alive to the will of God that urges me to pick up or reach or do whatever is needed for my hubby. Because of You, loving Your will (and loving my husband) makes that cross a great deal lighter!

Responding to evil . . .

 

Because I fear steep places without guard rails, this illustration in today’s reading deeply touches me. MacArthur writes: Two men going opposite directions on a narrow mountain trail met each other head-on. With a steep cliff on one side and sheer rock on the other, they were unable to pass. The harder they tried to squeeze past one another, the more frustrated they became. The situation seemed hopeless until one of them, without saying a word, simply laid down on the trail, allowing the other man to walk over him.

That illustrates kindness, normally thought of a “feel good” action. However, in the Bible it is part of what godly love means. It is an attitude that doesn’t mind getting walked on if it benefits someone else. It goes with patience in that patience endures abuses from others, whereas kindness repays them with good deeds.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19–21)

One of my dictionaries says that kindness is “tenderness of spirit” which defines the motivation behind allowing others to walk over me. I’m not insisting on my own way or being selfish but thinking of how I can benefit someone else.

This past week asked for this attitude and I discovered that being kind can be exhausting. Jesus sweat blood. I understand that a tiny bit better than before. Kindness should be easy when it comes to like-minded believers, but even then, my introverted nature finds it requires a conscious choice. It is not natural for me. Thankfully, God is here to help make it happen.

He was kind to provide salvation: “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:3–7)

He also shows kindness when putting me to work. The same word used in the above verses is also in this passage, translated here as “easy”:

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29–30)

Because of His kindness, and because I’ve experienced it, I should deeply desire to read His Word and grow up — be more like Jesus. This word is translated “good” here, again the same word also translated “kind” in other passages . . .

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (1 Peter 2:2–3)

Key to being kind is considering the kindness of the Lord to me. What do my sins deserve but wrath? What does my selfishness tell me about myself? About the kindness of God? No matter what others do or what they are like, Jesus wants me to be to them what He is to me: long suffering and kind.

PRAY: Jesus, it is far easier to be kind to ‘nice’ people, yet if that tires me out, what will being kind to those who are not so nice do to my energy level? I’m realizing again how much I need Your power made perfect in my weakness. I cannot show Your goodness to others without being filled with the Spirit and without being willing to let that action put me on my face — both in humility and in fatigue. I’m relying on You for this great need.

PONDER: Matthew 5:38–48 tells me more about what kindness means. Reread it and think of ways to apply it.