Ever feel like being a Christian in the world we live in and with the pressures of people and the devil are so overwhelming that you can barely take it?
Being a follower of Jesus isn't easy, as Jesus describes in the Bible. People will judge you, ridicule you, ignore you, and even hate you because of Jesus, but he is more than worth it.
Some days can be very hard as a follower of Jesus, as we have a target on our backs. The reason why Christianity feels so hard and why a lot of people don’t want to follow the Bible is because they are denying their sinful nature- what they originally were used to feeding.
Life feels hard as a Christian because we're going through spiritual warfare. The devil wants you to follow your flesh and what your sinful nature desires, but Jesus wants you to take up your cross and follow him, being pruned in the spirit by him and growing in spirit.
We're literally being pursued and held by the king of the universe while tempted and pulled by the enemy of the world at the same time.
Jesus knows that you were meant to be with him in spirit and in truth, and your flesh is getting in the way of that (Earthly desires, temptation, sin, addiction, habits, etc.).
The devil knows that if he can make you feel like Christianity is too hard and get you to follow your flesh then he is getting your flesh to grow and not your spirit. A lot of times, this makes Christians slowly come to resent the teachings of the Bible, sadly.
This is your reminder from Jesus today that you are doing good running the race away from your flesh and towards Him. He sees you, He loves you, and He is helping you on this journey of leaving your flesh and coming closer to Him.
Let us not be deceived or weakened by the devil’s whispers of grumbling about the hard task of denying ourselves. It’s worth it now, and it will be worth it after we die.
Those things that you want to say, feel, or do that is from the flesh aren’t worth it. If you are in Christ Jesus, that isn’t you anymore. You are a clean, beloved child of the Prince of Peace who demonstrated perfection on earth by being gentle and lowly to others. He could have let his anger blow, disobeyed God, followed his flesh, listened to the devil, and even fought back against the people who crucified him, yet he didn’t.
So, you aren’t alone when you bite your tongue in front of that person that tests your anger or patience.
You aren’t alone when you have a hard time getting up and making yourself read the Bible instead of doing whatever you want.
You aren’t alone when you say no to the world and say yes to God.
You aren’t alone by loving the people around you that are hard to love.
You’re following Jesus. You are his friend when you obey his commandments (John 15:14).
It isn’t our true selves that we’re denying if we’re in Christ Jesus as a follower of Him- we’re denying our old, broken selves and becoming who we need to be: chosen, clean, renewed children of the king.
This is your reminder to fight the good fight. Jesus knows that you’re having a hard time, and he will bless you. If you're constantly being attacked, then the devil is scared of what Jesus is doing for and in your life.
The devil will never be as strong as Jesus, and he doesn't have the power to keep you away from Jesus and your future with Him as a follower of Jesus, which he is jealous of and shows the reason why he's throwing stones at followers of Jesus and anyone who is trying to get to know Jesus.
One day, we will be in heaven with Jesus, and all of the times you held your tongue, resisted temptation, chose to love instead of hurt, and forgave instead hated will be remembered and cherished by Jesus. It will be worth it because of this. Jesus has taken care of the enemy. He has plans for him, too, and one day, he cannot harm us anymore.
In heaven, your sinful flesh will be completely erased. It will just be your spirit residing in heaven with Jesus, so remembering this fact motivates me to continue to be more like Jesus and less like the old me.
Let's run the race of endurance with Jesus today, knowing He will always be with us and nothing can overcome us in Christ Jesus.
”Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.“
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
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