Bear with me for just a few more thoughts about Luke 14: 25-27, 33 and taking up one's cross daily to follow Jesus.
This is a daily experience. The Gospel is not a one-and-done, as I said Sunday. One must daily be identified with the crucifixion of Jesus to keep from living the self-life fueled by unbelief that the plans, purposes, and provisions of Jesus are not the best for me.
But what happens when we fail. And we will...and we do. Do we lose our salvation and have to start all over again? Do we lose our salvation for good and are proven to be a fraud?
Well, since losing our salvation is not something we can do, then the answer to our failures is the same answer we started this life with...The Gospel.
We recognize the failure that we were living this day selfishly resulting in us feeling used, abused, drained, confused, and overall dead. While we might have enjoyed it for a moment, the end was not good. So we confess our sin of selfishness, repent, and ask His forgiveness.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1: 9 (CSB). That verse is still in the Bible and it still works - every time, all the time, every day.
In our repentance, we see where we veered off the road so quickly and easily so we can put some guardrails up next time to avoid that wreck. We recognized who we permitted to be a voice in our life that day or in that decision louder than God so we turn the volume down on that person. We ask His forgiveness for doubting Him in that decision or day and look how we can grow our faith through this to be stronger.
I recently heard someone say we are never any more mature than our last temptation or failure. So when we are obedient to "carry our cross" by dying to our will, opinion, plans, and advice coming from the flesh...then we will be stronger for tomorrow. Each failure handled immediately and properly can strengthen us and each victory certainly strengthens us.
Now tomorrow the temptation will be stronger, but that's okay for our God has already proven to be victorious over sin, temptation, hell, death, and the grave. So trust Him. Rely on Him.
Proverbs 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding, in ALL your ways know Him, and he will make your paths straight." (CSB)
It was Jerry Bridges who I first heard say, "I need the Gospel more today than I ever have." And he was in his 80's when he said it. And the same Gospel that saved us yesterday, will save us today...and tomorrow.
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