Jesus was such a radical! Pastor Max Lucado (by the way, I recommend all of his writings!) says it like this:
"Did the atonement for sin demand six hours of violence? No, but His triumph over sadism did. Jesus once and for all displayed His authority over savagery. Evil may have her moments, but they will be brief. The master of death could not destroy the Lord of life. Heaven’s best took hell’s worst and turned it into hope."
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death . . . even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
Just as Jesus did not have to do things the way He did . . . He could have accomplished our salvation in a much quicker and less painful procedure . . . we too are called to go above and beyond as a CHRIST-follower. We need to stop trying to find the easy way. We need to make the hard sacrifices. We need to go the extra mile and put in the additional hours.
As we live out loud for Christ and radicalize our walk with Him, others may just see Him and want to follow us as we follow Jesus! We may be called freaks, radicals, or worse. However, this is why He called you and me. This is why He sends you and me.
WHO WILL DO IT IF YOU AND I DO NOT?
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