"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." [Galatians 6:14]There is only one way to God. It is through Christ Jesus. No other name will save. No acts of man can substitute for the guilt, but His blood.
Yet there are many ways that the redeemed may serve God. But the will of man is still often in conflict with the will of God for that man. How can I obey his will and not just be led astray by my own will? Peter couldn't overcome his will to be "great", and to live, and so denied the Lord three times. He, I believe, gloried in the World rather than in Jesus. So when Jesus was shamed and rejected by the Establishment, he was shaken.
Paul may have been exactly the same before his conversion. But once he determined to follow Jesus, he did not look back at the world. The world was crucified unto him, and he unto the world; the relationship, the friendship with the world was cut and his bridges burned behind him. He became, as Oswald Chambers put it, "spoilt for everything else but Him."
Would I like to be spoiled for Christ? A spoiled child wants just what he or she wants, and will not control their will. They have not learned self-denial. Yet Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself..." Self-denial is the first step in Christian life. It is absolutely essential to spiritual maturation. But not self-denial alone; we must also take up the cross and follow him. So following him is the goal, not merely self-denial.
Then one who is "spoiled for Christ" wants only Christ, and nothing of this world will satisfy him. Do I want to be like that? Do I want to be so spoiled for Christ that I cannot be satisfied with the goodies and benefits and comforts of this world?
YES! A thousand times, yes. I want to want him more, and burn my bridges in this world.
But this means "taking up the cross daily," or as Paul says, crucifying the world and being crucified, tortured and killed, if you prefer. Why would I want that? Only because it is what Jesus offers. Not "Come and enjoy" is our Master's invitation, but "Come and die, and be raised to eternal life." This is why missionaries go to hard places and suffer willingly. This is why they are not distracted by successes or temptations, but remain faithful to the Lord to the end. This is why Paul did not settle down and build a big, prosperous church in Berea or Ephesus, but moved on, and on, and on.
I praise God for his love to me. Because I have begun to be spoilt for Jesus, I am not satisfied with worldly acclaim and PhDs and money and position and security. I want to take up the cross MORE. I want to reach those who have not heard the gospel MORE. TV has no interest to me. Fine dining, art, even music has lost its charms upon me. How shall I remain in this world, when going to be with him is so much more desirable? Because the utmost hope is to obey my Lord Jesus and hear him say, "Well done." No one else's "well done" is of interest to me. I am spoilt for Christ.
Lord grant me the grace to be spoilt for thee, dead to the world and its pleasures and joys, but able to be of use to you, and pleasing to you, even if only in small unseen ways. Lord, grant that my children will come to know and serve you as I do, and that I may be a better husband to my wife, as you are to your holy Church. IJNA
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