Greetings in the Lord wherever you are!
"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
Luke 14:27-33
What an accurate description of what it's like to follow Christ! Reminds me of the parable of the soils as well; some endured for a time but fell away later. And of the rich young ruler too because he didn't want to give up the one thing that was keeping him from the kingdom.
I pray each of you setting out to follow Christ have counted that great cost of what it will cost you to truly follow Him. But Christ IS WORTHY!
As we grow and mature we will be constantly refining and getting into the fine details of our lives and actions. At first we may deal with the so called big things and sins (we have to start somewhere) but once you have overcome those you keep going deeper and deeper daily to bring all things captive for Christ.
"(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
I was taking a walk today and I often see tracks of animals and other things along the driveway. Though I don't usually see the things that create them, it is a bit of history preserved from what was there some time ago. It's very sandy here so everything leaves a trail behind it...nothing is hidden.
Birds...
A cow...
Vehicles...
And an ant trail...
I was thinking how that could relate to us in our walks in the Lord. What kind of tracks are we godly women leaving? What do they also look like to God who sees into our heart? What are...
our actions
our words
our thoughts
our motives
telling about us as we live out our days and time moves on?
God sees and knows all. Will it be a trail of shame or one we see we were living victorious with the power of the Spirit. We do not become perfect just like God is, no, because we are still human, and we might and do fail at times but over time we will and must be growing if we are truly in Christ. And yes we are to aim for perfection and maturity in the Lord.
And yes we should be focusing on things above and not looking back but we do, as the seconds of the day move on, leave actions behind us for others, ourselves, and God to see.
What do those around us see of our lives? Can they find faults and sins, selfishness, complaining, or compromise on what they know the Bible teaches (even if they aren't doing it themselves)? Do they see hypocrisy?
I like what this verse says here (even though it isn't addressed to us women specifically)...it's still true no doubt.
"...that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."
Titus 2:8b
And this one...
"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
1 Peter 4:14-16
Reminds me of this one too. They couldn't find "fault" with Daniel except in regard to his faith in God.
"Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."
Daniel 6:4-5
May that be us as we live in this world among them, but separated unto Christ, and not like them. Let us strive our best to be blameless and if anyone wants to find fault with us may it be in regard to God and His holy truth and if we suffer for that and righteousness we know what we can do...
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy:
for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."
Luke 6:22-23
Strive on sisters!
Love in Christ,
...from a servant of the Lord
See the gospel to eternal life here.