Note to self: Jesus takes the burdens away. But that doesn't mean that suddenly life gets better. Beware of the prosperity gospel. Jesus tells you the costs in following Him. It's not like you don't know what you're stepping into. Oh, you do.

I really had to think and pray hard about this chapter. Because I hear lots of sermons/conversations about the question, "Is [Christianity] worth it?" Is it worth giving up my life? Is it worth turning away from those sins? Is it worth putting my faith into this heaven that isn't even for sure?

For me, it's not about trying to get saved and getting into heaven. I know that I did not create myself. There's no way that I was formed from evolution. I know that I have no idea what goes on the other side of the world. I am just man. But GOD. The God of the Bible. The God of this World. The God everlasting. HE created me. HE knows what's going on in Djibouti. HE is omnipotent. Therefore, my life belongs to Him. And instead of seeing God as this unreachable God... there is a way! Through Jesus Christ (look at youtube video below). And now I have a purpose: to worship and glorify this God to whom my life belongs. That's a blanket statement, I understand. It could include a lot of things: evangelism, missions, ministry, serving in the church, marriage, workplace, etcetc. But this chapter really helped me to understand the nature in which I live out that purpose: in JOY.


 

I've mentioned many times that my favorite passage in the Bible is II Corinthians 4:16-18.

Therefore, we do not lose heart.

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what it unseen.

For what is seen is temporary, but what is seen is eternal.

And on pgs. 22-23, John Piper talks about how suffering for Jesus is temporary and the pleasure in Jesus is eternal. That's what keeps me going. I see my life, and as messed up as it is… I know that this isn't just it. The heaven that is unseen (yet known because of what I know from the Bible, but not experienced) will be ETERNAL, 24/7 praising our God. And that is what "far outweighs them all". I love the way that John Piper puts it:

"Nothing can compare with the joy of walking in the light with Jesus as opposed to walking in the darkness without him" (23)

There was so much to this chapter, but surely this is what God was telling me to learn today.

Place your hope, trust, and faith in the promises!!!

  • Matthew 5:3-12
  • Luke 14:14
  • Mark 9:23
  • Matthew 6:33
  • John 15:7
  • Luke 12:31
  • I Corinthians 10:13

And there's SO SO SO many more! I could go on forever.

And one more reason why it is worth it: Because God has proved Himself faithful over and over again. Remember. Remember. Remember.