Most Christians recognize the passion of Christ on Easter, but how do they walk out their lives in clarity of the cross?
Jesus said I have came to give you life and life more abundant.
What does it mean to have a more abundant life through the cross of Jesus?
Jesus said to "take up your cross and follow me". How can you have an abundant life when taking up the cross of Christ?
Obviously, this is a spiritual lesson with realistic and physical demands that all Christians need to learn if they truly wish to follow after Jesus.
Now taking up your cross can mean a lot of things. It doesn't have to mean an actual cross and the loss of your physical life. Yet realistically, you may have to die to self or selfish desires in order to receive the blessing of God.
It can mean from putting up with things in this world and even suffering through those things until you receive blessings when you get on the other side of that issue.
Please understand that true blessings are spiritual blessings that come from the Holy Spirit inside every Christian. Yet also, these blessings can be from
God for the deliverance of issues to fulfillment of relationships, to healings or provision, or even vision for your temporal life here on earth.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God Hebrews 12:2
As we look at this scripture, we see that even though Jesus despised the shame he endured the cross because of the JOY,( blessing), and to be seated at the right hand of God (blessing). There will be always reward for our obedience.
In our obedience towards God, if we understand the process we are not only dying to self, but in the process we are bearing fruit of God's Spirit that is within us towards our daily relationships with others in all situations.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:22-24