Mysteries

 The "mysteries" of discipleship:

1. In order to live a full life you must pour yourself out for others. He emptied Himself.

2. In order to live at all you must die daily. "I die daily. Nevertheless I live; not yet I but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."

3. God's grading system is not based on IQ. God's A students are the diligent who use whatever brain He gave them "with all their might," "to the glory of God."

4. My struggles to serve Him are not proof of backsliding; they are proof that He is molding you into His image--proof that your "no-matter-what" faithful obedience pleases Him.

Christian maturity is growing up to be a child. "For of such is the Kingdom of God."

5. God uses suffering to turn you into His gold--His treasure--so that He might spend you for His purposes and glory. When He takes us Home, may there be no lose change lying around.

6. God does not want to be your Master--He is your Master. The question is what kind of servant am I. "You call me Lord, Lord, and yet you don't do what I command you to do."

7. The truth of the two Great Commandments is that I do not love God any more deeply I love my neighbor. Neighbor: anyone--everyone--who has a need.

8. The weapons of the Christian warrior are reflections of His love. The sword I wield the Spirit's not mine. The empowerment prayer to the Spirit not self-reliance.

9. The sin that destroys is the desire for autonomy--for control of my life. "You are not your own; you have been bought with a price; the precious blood of your Lamb."

10. I become free when I repent of my sins, trust in Him as the only Savior--the "one Mediator between God and man." And then with a heart full of gratitude I surrender myself to be His bond-slave.