One of, if not the main, misconceptions that people believe about Christians is that life becomes easier once you have been saved. Let me say, I know from experience, there is not a shred of truth to that statement. The moment you are saved, you have entered the phase of sanctification…the process of becoming holy and becoming more like Jesus. The pruning process of sanctification is where the rubber meets the road…. are you willing to surrender parts of yourself to be used by God? Are you willing to give up people, places, things, or anything that doesn’t please God, to be made more like him? This process NEVER stops, it’s a lifelong commitment of surrender…. that is what it takes to walk this journey!
Here is the thing, the thing that people misunderstand……following Jesus, obeying his commands, being a light, living out what God has clearly given to us….IS NOT BURDENSOME.
1 John 4:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
There is joy, there is peace, there is a deep and profound love in this process. Obeying God’s Word is where Christian maturity grows and grows….and that pain, heartbreak, frustration that you feel in that pruning becomes less and less. Some days are easy, many are hard, but I have never been through a more rewarding process.
I remember when I rededicated my life to Christ, after a few years of trying my best to run away and separate myself from the teaching of my parents (my dad is a pastor, for those that don’t know). I had a mentor that came into my life, and he helped me to realize the changes I needed to make in my life. I had to give up friends that I would drink, smoke, and make reckless choices with, which was lonely and hard—some of those friends I never hung-out with again, some of them I got to bring to church and witness to…I think about a lot of these people often….many of them still live that reckless life. I had to make new friends, I joined all sorts of ministries—which required me to give up time doing unnecessary things, and spend time with Godly people to speak truth into my life. If I didn’t walk in obedience to God’s Word, if I didn’t surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit, if I chose to ignore the sound teaching of a mentor, I would not have met all the incredible friends I’ve made along the way, and I certainly wouldn’t be married to the girl who captivated my heart with her singing on the praise team at church.
John 15:10-11 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
True joy, comes from obedience to God. Unbelievers don’t, can’t, or refuse to see that…they see the loss, or the hardship of surrendering oneself to God. In their mind, all that loss doesn’t equal joy….but joy is NOT happiness. Joy is a hope filled contentment in God— an assurance that God is who he says he is, will do what is right and just, all for our good and his glory. So, as you take those steps of obedience, as you walk through the process of pruning, as you surrender to God….turn your eyes to Jesus, find all that you need in the loving arms of Savior who loves you and walks with you on your journey. Trust me, it is worth it!
Here is the thing, the thing that people misunderstand……following Jesus, obeying his commands, being a light, living out what God has clearly given to us….IS NOT BURDENSOME.
1 John 4:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
There is joy, there is peace, there is a deep and profound love in this process. Obeying God’s Word is where Christian maturity grows and grows….and that pain, heartbreak, frustration that you feel in that pruning becomes less and less. Some days are easy, many are hard, but I have never been through a more rewarding process.
I remember when I rededicated my life to Christ, after a few years of trying my best to run away and separate myself from the teaching of my parents (my dad is a pastor, for those that don’t know). I had a mentor that came into my life, and he helped me to realize the changes I needed to make in my life. I had to give up friends that I would drink, smoke, and make reckless choices with, which was lonely and hard—some of those friends I never hung-out with again, some of them I got to bring to church and witness to…I think about a lot of these people often….many of them still live that reckless life. I had to make new friends, I joined all sorts of ministries—which required me to give up time doing unnecessary things, and spend time with Godly people to speak truth into my life. If I didn’t walk in obedience to God’s Word, if I didn’t surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit, if I chose to ignore the sound teaching of a mentor, I would not have met all the incredible friends I’ve made along the way, and I certainly wouldn’t be married to the girl who captivated my heart with her singing on the praise team at church.
John 15:10-11 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
True joy, comes from obedience to God. Unbelievers don’t, can’t, or refuse to see that…they see the loss, or the hardship of surrendering oneself to God. In their mind, all that loss doesn’t equal joy….but joy is NOT happiness. Joy is a hope filled contentment in God— an assurance that God is who he says he is, will do what is right and just, all for our good and his glory. So, as you take those steps of obedience, as you walk through the process of pruning, as you surrender to God….turn your eyes to Jesus, find all that you need in the loving arms of Savior who loves you and walks with you on your journey. Trust me, it is worth it!