springbreeze:
Hi Teresa,
Firstly people like Peter were more than willing to die for Christ and he managed , after a warning from Christ about his failure, to still fail.
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Secondly, this is not a blaze of glory outing.
Consider something that should be far easier. Giving up your will , Can you do this? Or do you want to hang onto your will and pride rather than suffer an injustice. A friend of mine is in the unfortunate position of losing his life savings to a fellow Christian. Paul said it is better for us to suffer the loss than to bring the name of Christ into a mud slinging episode. ( not verbatim)
Now, before we ask each other can we give up our lives for Christ, ask yourself the less glorious question, can you give up your will, are you prepared to be a
victim willing to suffer in silence, trusting in Christ that your life would not be that of a pauper if you “let go for Him”. Or would you stand on your righteous position and go to the courts for justice.
Let me witness.
I just recently returned from Australia after spending some 10 days " at home" . My mother and brother have just recently bought into a house and live together. They both have strong opinions and were at war and separated on my arrival in Brisbane in Australia. I spoke firmly to my mother as she is the practising Christian and told her unless she gave up her will, Christ may very well keep her alive for another 20 years. She is bored at 81. Now as is normal, both parties caused their problems. But it was her , my mother that I spoke to and told her to drop her pride and righteousness and go and hug my brother and tell him she loved him and ask him for forgiveness. She did, and I saw the sword of Christ. My brother was stunned and wordless and at last with my mother still up against him stammered, I’m not forgiving you right away. But the crisis was over and they were back talking very quickly afterwards.
I further told my mother that she had to rely on Him and not to argue with Len my brother or anyone but to trust in Him. A couple of days later, I was driving my son’s car and we left a shopping centre. We were a bit late for an appointment at my niece’s house and my mother wanted to go back to her place but I told her we could do that later if necessary and was determined to go forward. Would you believe I took the wrong turn and had to proceed until a u turn presented itself and then I missed the opportunity on the way back and again another one and was at this time fuming until the next exit and I realised this exit led to my mothers place. Then I realised I was being led by the Spirit- to go back to my mothers place as she desired. I swallowed humble pie and took mum home. All turned out well and I lost my grumpy attitude quickly, not wanting to be against Him and thanked Him for showing mum the importance of just asking and then not arguing but going to Him for His mercy. If it is His will it will be done.
On giving up your life.
On returning to Thailand, I went with a group of 200+ students on a student camp. One morning after exercises when the students were swimming one got into difficulties and I was the first to reach him. Two others came to assist and with our combined efforts we could not move closer to the shore. In Thailand there are no facilities. Now I have been given work by Christ and this work does not involve dying in the water at Hua Hin. I felt we were all going to drown and really felt I had been forsaken. I was tempted to swim to shore on my own so I could fulfill my work in Christ but didnt. I called out to Him with a loud shout in desperation. Then some large waves rolled into us and pushed us to shallower water so that occasionally I could feel the bottom. WIth only a little bit more drama we all ended up on the beach. The student was taken to ICU and survived and was back at school 4 days later. He praised me for my efforts but I knew what had happened. One I was so gratefull, immediately, for the the words of Christ on the cross came to me and I did not feel guilty for my thoughts of being forsaken. Secondly, from previous experiences I recognised this as a teaching from Christ. I had always believed that to give up your life was to give up your will, but now I know it involves not only giving up your will, but also your life.
Now I have never been in a situation where I had concrete forknowledge of the unpleasant experience before me. I just follow the leading , talking to God and Christ as a situation builds and trust that what I am doing is His will. Then you are in a situation. There is no replay button with a second option.
I also note that Paul did have forknowledge of strife on his journey to Jerusalem.
Walk in love
edwinG
PS please pray for MariaG
Just give me one eternal minute on my face before the Throne.