He went on, "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and on the third day be raised up alive."
Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? --Luke 9:22-23 (The Message)
Three chapters of my book The Royal Way of the Cross have been dealing with simplicity. Not the simplicity of a simple mind. Not the simplicity of living without stuff. Not the simplicity of naiveté. It is the simplicity of spirit. It is what the author calls having a right opinion of oneself.
Who are we anyway? God’s creation, God’s re-creation, we aren’t self-made men and women. We are God’s creation, God’s re-creation, made in His image in both instances – not our own image. Someone said it a little differently, “we don’t need to pad our resumes.”
Our greatest claim to fame is that we belong to God – Jesus gave His life for us – the Holy Spirit wants to live in us. But we don’t go around with a false humility that says, “I’m nothing.” We understand that we are complex – God has put us together and none of us is the same as anyone else. We are designed in His image – personality, talents, spiritual gifting, and passions. We have our family of origin and our place in that family that shapes us. We have unique life-experiences that have molded us. All of this is not given to us for our glory but for His glory. In fact they must be crucified – put to death and resurrected by God Himself to be lived for His glory. As our scripture says, “You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.”
Many of you remember that a year ago my sister, Rosemary, fell and broke her hip. That incident changed her life forever. One day she was a self-confident career woman living on her own ministering in her church and giving herself to people through her joyous personality. Suddenly, her life changed. The breaking of her hip began a downward physical spiral until she is now living in assisted living having lost her health. But she is still Rosemary. The essence of who she is remains and is being recreated. She still gives herself to people through her joyous personality. She knows everyone at her assisted living facility – residents and workers alike. And they love her. She knows their stories – she cares about them. Rosemary’s suffering isn’t over. Every day she deals with pain and loss. This is her new reality.
So who are you? You are the beloved child of God. So where are you? Safe in His arms.
“Father, today we want to simply rest in your care and love. Amen”
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