Today, there is a common fad in many women’s events, popular books and blogs, whether in devotions that present words as if they were spoken by Jesus himself or in conferences for women that turn our attention to the fulfillment of a great purpose. It seems that we have reduced Jesus’ words to words of encouragement, support, and affirmation. We felt comfortable listening to him (and listening to us) say, “You are wonderful, it is yours, my child!You can!
And, to be clear, Jesus encourages. It offers words of strength to the weary and comfort to the wounded. In a world where, so often, we feel that we are not good enough, we need your encouragement every day, however, focusing only on a part of your message. , I’m afraid we’ve reduced Jesus to an animator. And, therefore, that’s what we’ve become for each other. We offer words of affirmation, but without reprimands; words of forgiveness, but without remorse. We rightly celebrate his grace, but we often forget to cry for our sin.
- In doing so.
- We miss the opportunity to experience invigorating realities in our relationship with Jesus and with each other.
- They are friends who are willing to rebuke me for my sin and say the difficult things I trust most.
- I come back again and again for advice and wisdom.
- Precisely because they recognize that who I am is not all I need to be.
Does Jesus speak to us in different ways? He teaches, commands, rebukes, summons, and exhorts. When we reduced Jesus to our private supporter in the stands, we lost the faithful friend we desperately need. If most of the time you listen?You are wonderful !? of your devotion and the ministry of women, I invite you to return to the Word of God, in which we hear the voice of Jesus in various ways.
In the Gospels, it is clear that Jesus thinks that there is a person of first importance that we know: himself. He teaches in all forms and everywhere who he is: I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I’m the door. I’m the good shepherd. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the way, the truth, and the Life. I’m the real vine. I am who I am.
For some, this list can generate images of an egocentric boy who has the ability to remember the topic of all conversations, but when it comes to Jesus, he teaches us about himself, because he knows that understanding him is what we need. plus.
If your devotional group, Bible study group, or conference is more focused on who you are than who Jesus is, it’s time to take another book or find another group We desperately need to know more about Jesus, because in it we find everything we need. .
Jesus wants us to obey God in all that we do and say. As the Pharisees tried to lower the level of obedience to follow Him, does Jesus call us to true obedience?Not only in speech and work, but also in our desires and emotions. He desires all our lives, so He exhorts us to keep his commandments: “Have I told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy is complete?(John 15. 11).
Jesus wants us to obey, but not motivated by a sense of duty or as if obedience is boring (although we often think it is a duty and a nuisance) Jesus wants us to obey because He knows that the Word of God reveals the best of God. Walking in one’s commandments cannot always be joyful, but it leads us to a life full of joy.
Jesus, looking at our sin, does not say, “It is not much, do all that makes you happy. “Instead, he says, “If your right eye makes you stumble, take it out and throw it away from you; because you’d better lose one of your limbs, not your whole body, to be thrown into hell. ?(Matthew 5. 29).
Jesus explains very clearly how He feels about our sin: He hates it, He knows that it is corrosive to our souls. He knows that he never satisfies and always destroys. As He loves us, He wants us to flee from sin and call others to do the same (Matthew 18:15-17). When teachers and books promote sinful behavior as a means of personal satisfaction, Jesus severely rebukes and warns us of it (Luke 17:1-3).
A servant is no greater than his master, Jesus has walked the way of the cross and expects us to do the same: “If any man will come after me, renounce himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). If there is no cross in our Christianity, there is no renunciation in our lives, we must ask ourselves whether we are following the true Jesus. As Elizabeth Elliot writes: “Being a follower of the Crucified One implies sooner or later an encounter with the cross. And does the cross always involve a loss?
When our devotions and teachers talk more about finding our lives than losing them, we lose the wonder of Christian life. Are we afraid to summon others on the narrow path?Can the life of a living sacrifice be because we still place our hopes on this world; However, when we put our hope in heaven, we are free to pour out our lives here on earth and, to our surprise, we find our lives precisely when we abandon it. .
Jesus has a wonderful purpose and mission for your life. They involve you, but they don’t concern you, is that them? His kingdom, his will, and his glory.
And, sisters, there is no better goal in the world; Jesus wants you to carry the gospel message wherever he places it; wants the seeds to spread and enjoy part of the harvest (Matthew 28:19-20). To do this, do we need all his words, including your most difficult teachings?to strengthen our testimonies, to soften the truth of Jesus to make it more acceptable, in fact, is it quite the opposite?loses all its richness of flavors and becomes an insipid imitation.
Precisely because not everything is with us and because we are unable to do what we are asked to do, we desperately need a Savior. Jesus not only promises us paradise; promises a transformation today. Take what’s dead and invigorate it. It gives us a new heart. He’s calling us. He’s buying us back. He’s adopting us. He works the power of the resurrection in us. We are no longer slaves to ourselves, we have been freed to live for it. The good news we have the opportunity to share is much better than: “Everything is fine for you. , everything is fine for me. “
Sisters, I encourage you: remain faithful to Jesus, not to his feelings. Remain in His Word and not in the words of others. Don’t settle for less. He is more than the one who supports us, it is our beginning and our end.
By: Melissa Kruger. © The Gospel Coalition. Website: https://www. thegospelcoalition. org. Translated with permission. Source: Sisters, Jesus is not your cheerleader.
Original: Sisters, Jesus is not your animator, © faithful of the Department. Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br. All rights reserved. Translation: Harumi Makida dos Santos. Crítica: Renata M Gandolfo.