If There’s Anything The World Desperately Needs It’s Men To Accept The Work Of The Cross In Their Lives

We don’t like to loose. We’re taught to stand our ground and defend our rights.

The Christian life though is a “lost life” if we want to walk in the fullness of God’s plan.

Jesus said he is the way the truth and the life. His life is not just a story, it’s a message, and a pattern for us. His purpose was to do the will of the Father and this came at a price.

The price was his own will. The will of God led him to lay down His rights and position… even His life for us even though we don’t deserve it.

We can expect to be led, like He was, “to the cross” if we want God’s will above our own.

family beach holiday

An example …a husband is called to love his wife as Christ loves the Church. See where it’s going..? Even though a husband has a God given authority in his home, we are called to be ready to loose our rights for the sake of our wife. If I want to carry the heart of God for her there’s a price to pay – it’s being ready to “loose my life.”

Being ready to accept the work of the cross did not diminish Jesus’ authority. On the contrary, it established his spiritual authority.

If there’s anything the world desperately needs it’s men to accept the work of the cross in their lives. Being ready to loose for the sake of carrying the life of Christ, to be examples of God’s own heart in their homes.

Here’s the thing – this isn’t works. It’s too hard to sustain if it’s my works. It’s only possible by His grace which he makes available to anyone who truly desires it.

The message of the cross doesn’t make sense to our natural reasoning but truly it’s the power and wisdom of God!


Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,


Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,


  • Mark Saunders

Faith Truly Is A Gift That Comes From God

Stock markets have fallen. Investments have been shaken. The world is not the same place it was just weeks ago.

man reading newspaper while sitting near table

But the Lord never changes. We can bank on that! The unwavering faithfulness of God is the basis of our own faith.

Bible open on chapter Job

Faith is not something we ourselves can generate. The Bible tells us that faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God. Faith is imparted into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

Faith leaps over barriers that reasoning can’t get past. Faith always accomplishes God’s will.

Faith isn’t positive confession, although faith does speak and act. But sometimes it’s silent faith that perseveres through hardship, sickness or persecution. Faith is not a way to avoid troubles, but a way to go through troubles.

Faith truly is a gift that comes from God.

Jesus himself asked that when He returns will he find faith on the earth? Or will he find us positively confessing our own desires and expecting God to act because we have spoken?

Lord, increase our faith!


Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.


1 Corinthians 12:9
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [a]the same Spirit


Luke 18:8
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”


Hebrews Ch11


  • Mark Saunders

Coronavirus and Christ

We have adapted the blog post below by John Piper from his post on https://www.desiringgod.org/coronavirus where you can find helpful resources pertaining to Coronavirus.

‘Behold The Kindness And Severity Of God’

silhouette of mountain range during nighttime

It matters little what we think about the coronavirus. But it matters forever what God thinks. He is not silent about what he thinks. Scarcely a page in the Bible is irrelevant for this crisis.

Our voice is grass. His is granite. “The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever” (1 Peter 1:24–25). His words in Scripture “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). What he says is “true, and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9). Listening to God, and believing him, is like building your house on a rock, not sand (Matthew 7:24).

His voice is not only true; it is perfectly wise for every situation. “He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom” (Isaiah 28:29). “His understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5). When he gives counsel about the coronavirus, it is firm, unshakable, lasting. “The counsel of the Lord stands forever” (Psalm 33:11). “His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31).

God’s words in these times are not only true and wise; they are also precious and sweet. “More to be desired are they than gold . . . sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). They are the sweetness of life: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). And with indestructible life come words of unshakable peace and joy: “Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16).

And the sweetness is not lost in this moment of bitter providence — not if we have learned the secret of “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). The secret is this: Knowing that the same sovereignty that could stop the coronavirus and doesn’t, is the very sovereignty that sustains the soul in it. Indeed, more than sustains — sweetens with hope that, for those who trust him, his purposes are kind, even in death.

“Behold the kindness and severity of God” (Romans 11:22). His providence is sweet and bitter. Naomi did not sin when she said, “The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). That was true. And it was spoken at the very moment when all her fortunes were about to change.

This is not a season for sentimental views of God. It is a bitter season. And God sent it. We know this, because he “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). All things. Not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from our heavenly Father (Matthew 10:29).

Nature is not sovereign. Satan is not sovereign. Sinful man is not sovereign. God rules them all (Luke 8:25; Job 1:12; 2:6; Acts 4:27–28). So, we say with Job, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

Therefore, God not only comprehends the coronavirus; he has purposes for it. God does nothing, and permits nothing, without wise purposes. Nothing just happens. Everything flows from the eternal counsels of God (Ephesians 1:11). All of it is wisdom. All of it is purposeful. For those who trust Jesus Christ, all of it is kindness. For others, it is a merciful wake-up call: “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).

This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:21–24)

  • John Piper

Resources

What Holy Week Can Teach Us about Disappointment

Seasons of disappointment challenge us to understand God’s idea of “good,” if we’ll but listen. For it so easy to praise God when times are good… but far more difficult when times are bad.

Think about the first Palm Sunday. The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ grand entrance into Jerusalem in chapter 21. It says, that as Jesus entered the city riding on a donkey…

A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” -ESV.

Things were looking pretty good for God’s people – Jesus was a Messiah who could feed thousands at the snap of a finger; He could shame the Romans by wrestling Matthew from their grasp (their biggest tax collector). Jesus was able to stymie all the powerbrokers in Jerusalem. Yes, times were good and God’s people went out of their way to give Jesus a warm welcome — laying down their cloaks, cutting branches, shouting songs of praise, declaring His righteousness… and it was good and right that they do!

But they didn’t really understand why. The people rushing to pave the streets with cloaks and palm branches thought that Jesus was finally going to bring about the political changes they had longed for. Things were looking up: Jesus was about to crush the Roman oppressors!

Or so they thought.

Silhouette of 3 crosses under the blue sky

Their error was looking at “good times” from a temporal point of view, rather than eternal. And by the following Friday, you can’t find anyone who is excited to praise Jesus. They weren’t about to laud a convicted criminal. As Jesus stumbles up the long, painful road to Calvary, the crowds lining the street mock and jeer at him. The only person who provides a helping hand is Simon of Cyrene… and that’s only because he is forced to.

Even the disciples turned on him. They started the week thinking they had in Jesus, a rising star. Things were just going to keep getting better and better! But by the end of that dramatic week, they were running scared and hiding in the shadows.

Oh friend, you and I are no different. We have our big dreams of what loyalty to Jesus will do for us. We think that because we’ve signed up to follow Jesus, that God will reward us. Our 401K will keep growing, our boss will honor our dedication, our friends will recognize our hard efforts, and our church pews will be filled to overflowing.

God does reward us… just not always in the here and now in the way we expect.

Instead, when the stock market crashes, and our jobs are labeled non-essential… when each “refresh” of the pandemic statistics only show things getting worse… when God doesn’t answer our prayers in the way we think He should…

Well, the disappointment could cause us to turn away from God. We could think He’s forgotten us; that He really doesn’t have the power to save us.

Do not make that mistake. God’s idea of “good times” are seasons when patience is honed, courage is revealed, compassion is shown, and trust is refined. So, remind yourself of the eternal victory Jesus accomplished at the darkest moment on Calvary’s hill. Remember how Jesus endured the hours of shame and pain-filled isolation on the cross for the eternal joy set before him… the joy that is ours, too, if we choose it.

Oh Friend, celebrate Jesus today. And not just today. Throughout this dark and difficult season of life, I’m making every moment a reflection of my gratitude toward my Lord and Savior. And I believe you will do the same!

Joni and Friends Blog
https://www.joniandfriends.org/what-holy-week-can-teach-us-about-disappointment

We All Fall, Need To Repent, Get Up And Continue To Follow Jesus

I can believe and say that I’m an American (for example). But unless I have the American passport or ID, I’m not an American… it confirms my belief and confession.

There is also a proof of our identity as Christians.

Faith or belief and reliance on Jesus Christ, especially for salvation, is essential. The word of God says that whoever confesses the Lord Jesus with his mouth and believes in his heart that God raised him will be saved.

But there needs to be evidence that my words are not empty and that my belief is real. Jesus said even demons believe and shudder. The apostle James challenged to say that our faith must prove itself with our works.

Let’s be clear, we’re not saved by works, we’re saved by grace – but our belief in Christ will prove itself to be genuine or not.

It’s not possible for a Christian to want to practise a sinful lifestyle.

Sure we all fall, need to repent, get up and continue to follow Jesus… but practicing sin (like practicing soccer) and “improving” at it is different.

person kicks a soccer ball in field

There are so many temptations around us that easily draw us in and “help us get better” at things we know are wrong. Especially on the internet and social media.

Prove your belief and confession by turning your back on these temptations.

There’s nothing that pleases a father more than having a clear relationship with his children. Don’t stay away. Come back – even if you’ve messed up.


Romans 10:9

… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.


James 2:17

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.


Acts 26:20

…that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.


  • Mark Saunders