Welcome to my eclectic journey of my life and delights. This year my theme is surrendering my writing pen to the true author, Jesus Christ, while looking forward to the future, reflecting on the past and dancing through my journey.




Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Preparing My Heart


In preparation for Easter this year the Lord is drawing me to Him.  This season He is teaching me more on His Sovereignity.  A word we throw out in Christiandom, but to get our heads around the concept of sovereignty is another story. The beginning of preparing my heart for the victory of the RESURRECTION I am reading through Bread and Wine by varies authors.  Since God is teaching through different authors I will be sharing through their words on different writings that have penetrated my heart and spirit..

Discipleship and the Cross - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

But there is yet another suffering and yet another disgrace that no Christian escapes.  Only Christ's own suffering is the suffering of reconciliations.  Yet because Christ did suffer for the sake of the world's sins, because the entire burden of sin fell upon him, and because Jesus Christ bequeaths to the disciplines the fruit of his suffering - because of all this, temptation and sin also fall upon the disciples.  It covers them with pure shame, and expels them from the gates of the city like the scapegoat.  Thus does the Christian come to bear sin and guilt for others.

Individual Christians would collapse under the weight of this, were they not themselves borne by him who bore all sins. In this way, however, they can, in the power of Christ's own suffering, overcome all the sins that fall upon them by forgiving them. Thus do Christians become the bearers of burdens: "Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" Gal. 6:2  Just as Christ bears our burdens, so also are we to bear the burdens of our brothers and sisters.  They law of Christ which must be fulfilled is the bearing of the cross.  The burden of my brother or sister that I am to bear is not only that person's external fate, that person's character and personality, but is in a very real sense that person's sin.  I cannot bear it except by forgiving it, in the power of the cross of Christ, in which I, too, have a portion.

Those who are not prepared to take up the cross, those who are not prepared to give their life to suffering and rejection of others, lose community with Christ, and are not disciples.  Discipleship is community to the suffering Christ.


Praise God for the Cross!!

23 Joining in with more words:

Vee said...

My beloved and I were just having a very animated conversation about this very topic in response to reading in our devotional. I am inclined more to think that God, like any loving parent, does not burden us with suffering. John takes your approach. As for the bearing of each other's burdens...burdens shared are burdens divided. That is a very good thing. Janette, there's always something good here to ponder...

Lorie said...

Another awesome devotional post. Thank you for sharing.

Farm Girl said...

Good stuff, I have that book too. That is so awesome that we have so many of the same things. Always though, I like Dietrich Bonhoeffer but I find my soul shrinks back. When I read him I get afraid. I guess maybe because I have not been given the grace yet for that high cost of discipleship. I know I should be preparing my heart as well, thank you so much for the reminder.

myletterstoemily said...

i have always felt that when we bear each
other's burdens, we also diminish them.
sometimes, i feel that i absorb them like
the blob. not sure that's scriptural, it just
seems that way.

"may the Lamb who was slain, receive the
reward for His suffering."

love,
lea

Theresa said...

Janette sounds like a wonderful book you are reading. Thanks for always sharing what God is showing you.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

I've read him too, years ago. Deep. And as to suffering, I still think of the scripture that says "Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered", and right on the heels of that, I think... how do I think I won't suffer and have to learn obedience if Jesus did?

I do think discipleship is costly, and also the greatest joy.

Good stuff to think on Janette!

Cherie Hill said...

HUGE amen on this post sister! In order to share in His glory, we must share in His sufferings. (Romans 8:17) God is teaching me about "standing in the pain." He's mostly teaching me that He is standing there with me and there is nothing to fear.
Blessings!
Cherie

Cindy said...

So blessed by this post! Thank you for the reminder to prepare my heart as well.

Deborah Ann said...

Beautifully penned, Janette. What a great idea - to start getting prepared ahead of time. It's got me thinking about how I'm going to do that. God already pushed me in the right direction yesterday with a scripture that jumped out at me. Go God!

Kristin said...

I am behind on my blog reading and was catching up today! I enjoyed reading this! I also enjoyed your post about the hope chest--what a fun idea/tradition!

I won't see you Friday because I am out of town performing in LA this weekend, but maybe I'll see you at church the following weekend!!!!

Sandy said...

As Sonja said, "Jesus learned
obedience through the things He
suffered", comes to my mind too.
I don't think we get to do this
life on earth without suffering.
And I'm all for bearing one
another's burdens and fulfilling
the law of Christ. Suffering also
builds character and we find out
who we really are through those
times. Lots to think about here.
Thanks for sharing, dear Janette.

Debbie said...

WOW...soo much good stuff to think about here. I have always loved the scripture about bearing one anothers burdens...I feel He's done that so that we can see Him care for us in a visible way sometimes. I do honestly believe as well our greatest sufferings bring about our greatest leaning experiences. HUGS

Sue said...

One of my favorite authors, janette, I am one that believes in bearing my one another's burdens Both external,and what is inside of a person. After all Christ was and is my example. Being a disciple of Christ, doesn't come cheap! Thank you for this great teaching, much for me to think about tonight.
Hugs,
Sue

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

I'm reading the Incomparable Christ in preparation for Easter. Thanks for such a thought provoking entry. There's so much more to Easter than bunnies and hunting Easter eggs. Praise the Lord for the cross and the difference it makes in our lives! Blessings!

Debbie said...

Oh, my. That was so powerful! It was particularly so coming from that writer. I was recently reading more about Bonhoeffer. An amazing servant of God he was.

A multi-dimensional life said...

Amen Janette! I love your devotional. What wisdom in Bonhoeffer! I look forward to seeing what else you will share!

There is so much depth within this one excerpt; so rich!

"I cannot bear it except by forgiving it"!

When I ponder: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." And "Love your neighbor as yourself." ... I feel that if I really love others, I can't help but bear in their burdens /forgiveness!

Just the thought of losing community with Christ makes me sad - "Discipleship is community to the suffering Christ!"
And again, I think of His sacrifice which was greater than anything we can offer up...just a mere taste of His grace leaves me longing for more of Him...in deep gratitude!

Diana Ferguson said...

Great post. Hope all is well with you and that precious family.

Unknown said...

Great post my friend.. so true..
it is so easy for us to hold our heads up high and puff out our chest and proclaim that we are Christians.. but to live it, is a bit harder.. and to know what it truly means is even harder sometimes..
Thanks for the reminder.
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Janette,

This wasn't an easy devotional piece to read . . . still, I am thankful that you shared it with us.

-LR

So, I Begin this Journey...... said...

Amen Janette! Amen!

Angel said...

Great post. Great truths to ponder here. Thanks for taking time to share them. (And thank you for visiting my blog.) Blessings!

Sharon said...

I have always been inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He certainly knew what it was to pay the cost - I have admired his courage as he gave his life for the Lord he believed in.

May I learn to take up my daily cross and follow after that same Lord. Trusting Him - always trusting Him - no matter what...

Debbie Petras said...

Although I wish suffering were not a part of my walk, I know that He is indeed with me all through each and every moment of my life. I wouldn't be able to get through it otherwise.

Love you,
Debbie

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