Big Ideas that Grab You
Theme of the Week: Sacrifice or Safety?
Patrick Morley
Saturday, February 21, 2004
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Q. While some lessons are learned in a flash, you say, others seep in over many years. How has that worked for you?
A. One idea has recently been sinking in for me and grabbing at the core of my being. It's this: The Christian life is a broad road of happiness, joy, peace, blessing, success, significance, and contentment, which is ironically gained by choosing the narrow road of surrender, obedience, self-denial, self-sacrifice, truth, worship, and service.
The world would say, "Want to be happy? Seek a better job. Live in this neighborhood. Take this vacation. Drive this car. Send your children to this school. Join this club." God says, "Want to be happy? Surrender your life to Me. Obey Me. Live by faith. Give yourself away in service. Deny yourself."
Jesus does reward, but as 20th-century writer Bruce Barton observed, Jesus used the higher style of leadership that brings forth a man's greatest effort not by the picture of great rewards but by the promise of obstacles.
Ironically, when we bring ourselves under Jesus' authority, allow him to be Lord (which He is regardless), and walk in His way of obedience, service, and self-denial–things that sound like giving up happiness–he rewards us with every spiritual blessing.
Recently I wrote down these words in my journal: "God, it is in Your plan, purpose, and will that I find these pleasant things. Your will is agreeable with me. Ours is not a contest to get around, manipulate, or overcome Your will, but to enter in. It is not a roadblock, but a gate."
Patrick Morley is the author of Ten Secrets for the Man in the Mirror.
Adapted from Ten Secrets for the Man in the Mirror (Zondervan, 2000) by permission.
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click
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Lord Jesus, You've called me to shoulder my cross and follow You. Give me the guts to do it.
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