Daily Devotional

Word of the Day

Courage for the Journey

The life of embracing the cross and the fruit of sanctification the crucified life have their practical aspects. We understand what it is to do, but how are we supposed to do it? Practically what would be a good way to get ourselves up on the cross and stay there? How can we learn the principles of temperate living (lives that are under control)? So often as we study the Word, we see the pure and perfect principles. Even though the Scripture reveals the feet of clay of the men and women of God, so often we only see the end product and the victories won. It's important for us to understand how people get there. How do they get to those places of victory and making quality decisions that can last for a lifetime? It is really a process in every one of our lives. Don't get in a hurry. Don't get discouraged in this journey that you're on, because regardless of what you achieve tomorrow, you are never going to be finished. You may make some quantum leap tomorrow out of the miry clay up onto the mountaintop. All of a sudden you may hear an audible voice from heaven that changes your life and you're transformed. The Spirit of God comes upon you and you become a psalmist, you begin to prophesy, you lay hands on the sick and they recover, and you walk on water--but you're not done! It must go on from there, every day a process of conforming into the image of Jesus.

So many times we get discouraged because we judge ourselves by ourselves. Somebody appears to have an easier go at it than we do. You don't know what's going on inside of them. They may look like they're doing better on the outside, but the fact is we are all warring the same war, we are all in the same mess, and every one of us falls short. Some might appear to one another to be doing better than others. In fact some are more mature, more disciplined, and more Christlike. But they are warring some of the greatest battles, because they have a clearer glimpse of how ugly they really are and have to deal with that every day.

How do we get this together? One of the things that's clear is that we need one another. No man lives to himself, and no man dies to himself (Rom. 14:7). We need one another in the Body of Christ so that when we're weak that one who is strong can lift our hands up. We need brothers and sisters because there is wisdom in the multitude of counselors. We need the iron that sharpens iron. We need people to rub up against us and cause sparks to fly periodically because we're not headed in the right direction.

We live in a hopeless world with no value system, living for the moment. We have before us stability, peace, strength, and promises that are sure to a thousand generations. We have a God who will never leave us nor forsake us. Yet we may not taste of the Lord and know that goodness. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but to walk into a place and smell the coffee many times is just a captivating aroma. It almost picks you up and draws you in there! But there is a fragrance that comes from God, a fragrance of righteousness, holiness, and pure love that will intoxicate you. Nothing else will ever satisfy you again. That's what keeps you on the cross.

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