Monday, February 28, 2011

Big Faith and the Reality of the Cross

Sometimes it seems that Christ followers fall into one of two camps. There is the “big faith” camp which prays big prayers, sings like cheerleaders, thinks positively, and dismisses hardship as temporary at best.

On the other hand there is the “hard core” camp. This tribe counts the cost of discipleship, embraces sufferings, and doesn’t expect much from God but trials.

Is there a third way?

In Luke 9 we see the disciples called to embrace both Big Faith and the Reality of the Cross. We are called to pray for healing, hope, revival, conversions, and deliverances. We are called to pray for these things with Big Faith.

And at the same time we are called to follow a Savior who would be delivered to the hands of sinful men and crucified. And we are called to carry our cross and follow him.

Here’s how that works: We need to pray big kingdom sized prayers while realizing the answers will often be accompanied with suffering. We need to pray big kingdom sized prayers while weeping with the one for whom we are praying. We need to pray big kingdom sized prayers while understanding that we will draw the fire of the evil one by doing so.

But we do it anyway. We embrace both big faith and the reality of the cross!

The well wisher of your soul’s happiness,
Pastor Tom

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