Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Philippians 3:16-4:1 (TNIV)
17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.
20-21But there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He'll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
1 My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God.

It is not always easy to follow Jesus. Sometime people think that when you choose to follow Jesus you will never suffer or get hurt. That is not true. Following Jesus can be hard. It is hard because we do not always get to do what we want.

It was not easy for Jesus to go to the cross. And it is not easy to explain why God would let his son die. The way of the cross is suffering. Jesus himself told us to pick up our own crosses, our sufferings, and follow him. The good news is that Jesus’ story did not end with the cross. He was raised back to life. Someday, we too will be given eternal life, even if we have had to suffer along the way.
So, “don’t waver. Stay on track, steady in God.”

Is it ever hard for you to stay on track with God?

When?

What can you do to keep on God’s path?

What gives you hope along the road?