Day 9 - June 21
We Can’t Play It Safer 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

It was a very shameful journey that Jesus walked through to the Cross. But he endured the mocking, the pain, the humiliation because He could see a vision – a vision of our future redemption that brought Him great joy.  And this joy, along with His desire to bring pleasure to the Father, was enough for Him to persevere through to finish His course.   

We as the church today do not always walk in the fullness of the power of Jesus because we have settled for less than the journey that Jesus walked in.  Jesus could have spoken a word and angels would have come and rescued Him.  But He knew that the only way he could bring us into the kingdom of God was by the shedding of His blood. And so he embraced the whole journey, becoming obedient even to death. 

We can’t play it safer than Jesus did.  No servant is greater than His master (John 15:20).  If obedience cost Jesus His whole life, it will cost us nothing less.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!  Phil 2:5-8

The key to what the Lord wants to do, in and through us, is not in our ability, but in our death.  Once we die to our own desires and ways, the Lord is able to release another measure of His resurrection power in our life and through us spread the fragrance of Christ so that everyone will know that the power at work in us is of God and not from ourselves.  (2 Cor 2:14). 

And that is why every new level of authority that the Lord wants to release to us, in our lives individually and corporately as a church, requires another, deeper level of death to self.  And this is the question the Lord is asking of us today:  are we prepared to consecrate ourselves anew to walk as Jesus did? To take up our cross and follow him no matter what the cost to us personally? 

May we commit today that we won’t try to play it safer than Jesus did but choose to “die daily”. (1 Cor 15:31) Let us scorn the shame and humble ourselves no matter what to bring honour to His name and pleasure to His heart.

1)       Spend some time meditating on the sacrifice that Jesus made in coming to redeem us.  The Creator of the universe made Himself nothing, in order that He might save us.  Release your heart of worship and thanksgiving to Him for His sacrifice and what it has meant to your life.

2)       Ask God to show you areas in your life which are still “alive”, that is under control of your own will and desires.  Maybe these are stubborn areas that you have tried to lay down in the past without success.  But today there is a power that is being released because our consecration is corporate.  Choose to believe that you can bring these issues to the cross, once and for all, today.  Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will help you!

3)       When you are ready, enter into this covenant to lay down your life afresh to the Lord.  Make this declaration and seal it by taking communion.  “Lord, I commit myself to you again today.  I know that for the joy set before me of seeing your kingdom come, your will be done, here on earth and it is in heaven, it will not take less than what you have paid.  And I will not shrink back Lord.   I will despise the shame, I will embrace the cross willingly and with joy, fixing my eyes on you.  I seal this covenant with you today by the blood of Jesus”.   Now take communion in remembrance of His sacrifice for us through His broken body and shed blood.