The Crucified Life

As I continue to learn about the life of Jesus, I am becoming more deeply aware of the calling to live the “crucified life“. All I do in this life should spring from a heart which offers all that I am as a living sacrifice. I  sense the constant battle of my flesh that screams, “What about ME? What about MY rights? What about MY comfort? What about MY “needs”…or MY children’s “needs”…or MY husbands “needs”?”

I often share about the importance of being involved in the lives of other believers – the body of Christ – and how much we need each other. On a daily basis I have the opportunity to choose whether or not the things that I do are going to be done with only ME in mind, or if I am going to live a life of service and reach out to the people that God brings into my life.

• When I invite someone into my home, do I expect that the person I am serving will invite me over, be my friend, or be my children’s friend…OR…Do I invite others over as the Lord brings them to mind, with the sole purpose of serving and encouraging them. When they leave do I hope they will reciprocate the invitation or do I simply thank them for taking the time to come over. Am I grateful for the opportunity to serve another and expect nothing in return?

• When I go to church, do I look for opportunities to reach out to those around me, find out about their week, and look for ways to build up and encourage…not expecting anyone to do the same for me? Can I be content if nobody asks about me?

• When I am in a store, do I become impatient if the sales clerk is slow or unfriendly, or do I put aside my “rights” and graciously seek to  encourage and serve?

• When someone mistreats me, is sarcastic, or makes me feel foolish, do I become upset because they have not respected me…or do I quietly “take the hits” and offer my dignity, reputation, and hurt feelings to the Lord, serving even those who treat me this way?

• When I see a friend spending time with other people and leaving me out, or when my children are feeling neglected by a friend, how do I respond? Am I hurt or disappointed? Do I allow resentment to enter in, or do I offer my friendships to the Lord, remembering that I am owed nothing. Do I continue to seek out ways to serve those friends who no longer include me…even if they never include me again? Can I serve them and expect nothing in return?

In each situation I experience a battle. I want comfort. I want respect. I want others to serve ME….I want to feel accepted and cared for, but that is not what I am called to. I am called to offer myself as a living sacrifice. In all things, I am called to willingly offer myself, my rights, and even my desires as a sacrifice to God.

Each time I offer up my life, my rights, my comfort, my friendships, my children’s friendships, my agenda, and all of these things up to the Lord as a sacrifice, I am then able to leave them behind, move on, and learn in a deeper way what it means to serve without expectations. All of these situations are opportunities for me to learn how to live the crucified life! I am ashamed to say that I have not always wanted to live the crucified life, but I am growing in this area!

Serving is much more than just doing nice things for others. When I serve others, I am serving God! When I serve others it requires me to “die to self“. I serve and obey God when I am “crucified with Christ“, and I identify myself with Christ and His death.

I identify myself with Christ and His death…

What a privilege!

IF YOU LIKE THIS POST, OR IF IT HAS ENCOURAGED YOU, PLEASE SHARE

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER too!

SUBSCRIBE to receive your FREE copy of Overwhelmed today!

AND/OR

SIGN UP to BEGIN a M.O.M. Initiative Mentor Group in your area! You will also receive a FREE copy of Overwhelmed and as a ministry tool, please feel free to make as many copies as you need.