TODAY’S DECLARATION
I declare in Jesus’ name that I will become less so you, King Jesus, can become greater in my life. I belong to you and you nailed the passions and desires of my sinful nature to the cross with you. You have made me an overcomer!
PAIN FOR GAIN
The walk of Jesus Christ is actually a painful walk. The American church does not want to hear that. They’re like, “Sign me up for supernatural prozac. I vote yes to the kingdom of Bible studies, potlucks, basketball games and endless conferences.” That’s the American church and it’s not a real walk with King Jesus. I’m sorry if this seems harsh, but here’s a reality check:
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. – Isaiah 53:3
When you truly walk with Jesus, it’s such a painful walk. It’s so painful, you need to have the power of the Holy Spirit to comfort you. It’s true.
I don’t mean it’s a horrific walk. What’s real is you’re going to be confronted constantly with the world you’re living in, with your ability to think and process, with your finances, with who you are to other people, with your own identity, with what you’re capable of, with what’s been in your past and how God’s calling you into this different future. The list goes on and on. And I’m just going to tell you this: those places are often hurtful places.
Can you get past the offense of the hurt? A lot of people cannot, and it’s very important that you understand that Jesus is actually the “rock of offense.” What does that mean? It means this: If you’re going to walk with him, you’re going to constantly stub your toe and be confronted with issues you have to overcome.
But know this: stubbing your toe will save your life and it will save it for eternity! Think of Jesus as a parachute. If you get on an airplane and I give you a parachute and tell you, “This parachute is not only comfortable, it’s fashionable. Everyone has one and best of all, it will make all your problems go away,” what are you going to think an hour into that flight when the turbulence hits?
You’re going to rip that parachute off and say, “I tried that Jesus thing and it didn’t work for me. It was uncomfortable and it did not make the turbulence disappear like I was promised.”
It’s only when you know that parachute is uncomfortable—it’s heavy and it’s not fashionable in most circles—but it will save your life when the plane goes down, because this is the truth: the plane is going down. It is. We all die, so keep that parachute of Jesus on! Keep stubbing your toe against the Rock that is Him. The pain is for our gain. Why? Because Jesus paid that price for that parachute and Jesus is enough.
WATCH NOW: JESUS IS ENOUGH