Article: On the Cross, Still alive | Leny Shibu, Ireland

Christ Jesus is the role model in believer’s life. He displayed, His life throughout New Testament and commanded the church to abide with it. Cross is His way of life.

Jesus commanded us to “Deny yourself and take up the cross” to become His disciple. He not only commanded but also provided immeasurable riches of Glory to experience the cross. The Holy Spirt is always with us as a person to shower His grace so that we die to our old self.

Question here is are we ready to deny our self or are we busy proclaiming about ourselves.

What credit do we even have to our self? Sin is what lies in us. Rom 7:18 says For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.

Every boasting, every excuses, every defense comes out of sin which is lying in us. We are always ready to throw stones on others instead never willing to wash others feet.

It is easy to pass comments about others rather reflecting our own sin. We are busy searching speck in other’s eye. Ephesians 5:4 says Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanks giving.

We give thanks to the Lord at the same time does foolish talk and crude joking. When questioned for the same, outpouring of excuses or the defense mechanism starts working in us. As a believer what kind of a struggle is this?

This is spiritual warfare between flesh and Spirit. Flesh is hostile to God. We can please God only through Spirit. Flesh cherishes sinful nature and spirit is contrary to it. Spirit is intolerant to sin.

Still the question remains why this is happening to us? Because mankind is unwilling to deny himself or herself. A very good example Christ laid for us which is The Cross. Our flesh deserves to die on the cross. When I experience death, my thoughts, intentions, suggestions, advices etc are dead as well.

Mankind is so rebellious to God that we cleverly deny the cross rather than denying our self. Denying the cross means disobedient to His word, quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit who is always available to bless us richly to experience the cross in our personal life as it is impossible to attain with our own merit or decisions.

It is highly recommended to utilize time wisely and ask help from the Holy Spirt to take up the cross or else when Lord comes, He will say, “ I never knew you”.

Leny Shibu, Ireland

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