Morning Reflections

Obedience — Part II

The Cross We Carry Daily

Good morning, friend.

Earlier this morning, I shared a thought that kept me awake and eventually brought me to my desk around midnight. We looked at the wonderful truth that Jesus Christ offered Himself once for all.

But as I finally returned to bed, one question remained: If Christ died once for my sins, what am I called to do when I wake up tomorrow?

Well, tomorrow has arrived. Let’s open God’s Word.

I imagined what it would be like if Jesus Christ had to return to the cross every day because of the sins we committed.

Thankfully, God’s Word tells us that His sacrifice was once for all.

He doesn’t have to die again.

But that brings us to another cross.

The one Jesus tells us to take up daily.

Jesus said:

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”

Luke 9:23 (KJV)

Notice that word.

Daily.

There is something we are called to do every day as followers of Jesus Christ.

Not to purchase our salvation. Not to repay Him for His sacrifice. Not to earn another day of forgiveness.

But because we belong to Him.

Paul wrote:

“I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”

1 Corinthians 15:31 (KJV)

In its context, Paul was speaking about the dangers he continually faced in his service to Christ. His words remind me that following Jesus is not merely a decision we talk about once and then forget. It is a commitment that reaches into the way we live each day.

And Romans 6 teaches us that our old man is crucified with Christ, so that we should no longer serve sin.

So what does that look like in an ordinary life?

Well, every morning, Lord willing, I’ll wake up.

Hopefully, before the demands of the day begin pulling me in every direction, I’ll spend some time talking with the Lord.

I’ll thank Him for another day.

I’ll thank Him for my salvation.

I’ll open His Word and ask Him to guide me.

And then I’ll step out into the world.

I’ll go to work. I’ll deal with people. I’ll face frustrations, temptations, distractions, and decisions.

Somewhere along the way, I’ll probably discover another area of my life that needs correction.

Maybe I’ll speak when I should have listened.

Maybe I’ll become impatient.

Maybe I’ll allow pride, selfishness, or some other sinful attitude to influence my actions.

When God’s Word brings those things to my attention, I need to respond.

Not make excuses.

Not blame somebody else.

Not convince myself that a little sin doesn’t matter.

Confess it. Repent of it. Seek forgiveness. And turn back toward obedience.

John wrote:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9 (KJV)

What a wonderful promise.

We don’t have to hide our failures from God.

We can come before Him honestly, acknowledge our sins, and seek His forgiveness.

And when evening comes, I hope I’ll take time to thank Him again.

Thank Him for the opportunities He gave me.

Thank Him for the people He placed in my path.

Ask forgiveness where I’ve failed.

Spend time in His Word.

Then, Lord willing, get some sleep.

And tomorrow?

Wake up and do it again.

That brings me back to Groundhog Day.

Wake up. Pray. Work. Face temptation. Confess. Give thanks. Go to sleep. Repeat.

But there’s something I don’t want us to miss.

The Christian life isn’t supposed to be an endless cycle of making the same excuses for the same sins.

God calls us to grow.

We may face some of the same struggles tomorrow, but through the Holy Spirit and the truth of God’s Word, we can learn to respond differently.

A little more patience.

A little more humility.

A quicker willingness to confess when we’re wrong.

A greater desire to obey.

A deeper love for the Lord.

Not perfection accomplished through our own strength, but a life being shaped by God.

Paul wrote:

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:11 (KJV)

That’s what I want to remember when I wake up tomorrow.

My old life doesn’t have to rule me.

Sin doesn’t have to be my master.

And I don’t have to keep treating obedience as something I’ll get around to when life becomes easier.

Jesus Christ has already accomplished the sacrifice for my sins.

Now I am called to follow Him.

Every morning presents another opportunity to surrender my will, seek His guidance, and walk in obedience.

And when I stumble, I don’t need another crucifixion.

I need to return to the Saviour whose sacrifice was already sufficient.

So perhaps tomorrow morning, before we reach for our phones, check the news, or begin thinking about everything we have to accomplish, we could take a moment to remember what Christ has done.

Thank Him.

Open His Word.

Ask for His help.

Then go out and live as someone who belongs to Him.

And when the next morning comes, do it again.

Not because Jesus needs to die again.

Because He died once, and now we are called to live for Him.

Here’s my question for you today:

Am I simply repeating yesterday’s Christian routine, or am I allowing Christ to change the way I live today?

Until the rain falls again…

Grace and peace,

A Porch Believer