Disciple part 3
Here's what we seem to think--especially in "religious" circles--we seem to think Matthew 16:24 is the secret recipe to being a disciple. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." But if you notice, Jesus said that TO His disciples. In reality, Jesus pointed at a (seemingly) random person and said, "Come with me." And if they came with Him... boom. Disciple. Because being a disciple is NOT about denying yourself. Being a disciple is about BEING yourself. Learning who you are by learning who Christ is in you. Learning how to love by learning how you are loved. And, for the record, "your" cross... is His cross. We were crucified with Christ. 2,000 years ago. We don't need to deny ourselves, stop being who we are, try to fit into a religious box, and carry a cross. All we need to do is let God love us and love each other with that same love. That's what this abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love is all about. Its receiving and releasing the gift of God. Period. Not trying (and failing) to earn it. Simply letting what's inside come out by knowing and believing that its in there. Its not about being like anything or anybody... except Jesus. You know, our true identity. God in the flesh. Love in a body. God in OUR flesh. Love in OUR body. We don't try to be like Him. We simply let Him be Himself in us, and through us, and as us. We simply let the love that's inside come out by filling ourselves to overflowing with what we've already been filled with. We simply experience Jesus' life by laying it down for our friends. And understanding that we destroy our enemies by MAKING them our friends. By laying our lives down for them. When someone loves you--really loves you with that unselfish, uncondtional, sacrifical, agape love of God--its really hard to NOT like them. That kind of love melts even the hardest hearts. But until we know that that's how God loves us... until we KNOW it with a knowlege that passes knowledge... with heart knowledge instead of just head knowledge... until we know that's how God loves us, we can't love like that. How could we? We can't give what we don't have. And we can only give what we do have. That's why the New Commandment, for the New Man, is to love one another AS Jesus loves us. Again, receiving it and releasing it. Letting God love us and then loving Him back by loving each other. Living a life WORTH living by living a life of love. That's the only life worth living. Because to live is to love and to love is to live. They aren't just connected. They are the same thing. So if you want... I saw this the other day... if you want more kindness in the world--put it there. If you want to feel love... love someone. Its better to give than to receive. We have what people need. And we need to give it to them. So stop trying to be someone you're not and learn who you really are. A disciple is a student of love. Learning how to love by learning how we are loved. Learning to accept, and be, who we are by learning who we are. Not denying ourselves (and each other) but celebrating ourselves, and each other! Loving ourselves. And each other!