by erika haveman
I hope the title of this blog brought you here. And I hope you know that I know that the fight for redemption has already been won. Jesus on the cross took death, brokenness and shame, and in rising from the grave He conquered them so we wouldn’t have to fight to destroy those things on our own anymore. I know without a doubt that I am redeemed. But I also know, because I’m still waiting on the second coming of Christ, that I am simultaneously being redeemed. So what does this all actually mean?
Recently – what’s another word for recently? I tend to use this word a lot. So many Most Almost all of my blogs are sparked by situations or conversations that I have that inspire or trigger my desire to write. But anyways…recently I got thinking about this concept after having a conversation with someone who has been watching a loved one make decisions that are not Biblical. It’s really hard to watch this kind of thing, and I’m sure many of us out there deal with this on a regular basis. But as I listened and reflected I was led to a challenge for my own life: do I live redeemed? Or do I accept my brokenness on the foundation that God has saved me?
I do think that it’s so easy to think of ourselves as redeemed, but still live in and accept our own brokenness. This not only happens in our personal lives but in the lives of those ones we love. It’s easier and more “tolerant” to be apathetic towards those we love than to make a stand for truth and justice. It’s ironic how we pick and choose Bible passages for the sake of keeping peace, because Jesus literally speaks into this very issue when He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27).
This is not an easy passage to read and accept. It’s definitely way easier to ignore it, and admittedly it can be confusing when held up against Biblical ideals of love and grace.
I don’t think Jesus is literally saying to “hate” everyone because most of the time He’s talking about loving one another. This word “hate” more has connotations of “esteeming less” – as in Jesus needs to always be the first choice. Jesus needs to be the One we live for, love first and submit to. I cannot live submitted to what I want. I need to live submitted to what and who I need – and that will always be Jesus.
This is where it gets hard because there are a lot of things in this life that we want and we allow to take precedent over our relationship with Jesus, and I would say most of us are prone to submitting ourselves first to other people than to Jesus. I’ve talked about this before in regards to relationships because so many of you as my readers want to be married and aren’t, or you are married so you know how hard it can be to fight to place Jesus on the throne instead of your spouse. Keeping Jesus on the throne of our lives is a fight. It’s a fight that we can’t always do alone, either, nor do I think we should try to do it alone. This is where a body of believers comes in really handy.
I have been wrestling through some relational related things in my own heart as of late, and I was talking to some other believers about it. Ironically the response I got from most – and the response I knew in my heart I was looking for – was the statements like “I’m so sorry,” or “That’s really hard, I’m praying for you” and “I love you so much!” While I was accepting this and they were needed it wasn’t until one, lone, wise friend stepped up and called me out. He made me see that I was being way too self pitying of my own situation and was putting my desires (while they are healthy) on the throne instead of Jesus. He dared enough to call me out and fight for me when I had nothing left to fight on my own. His words were empowering and lifted the filter of how I was seeing my own situation and reminded me that I’m still being redeemed and I do need to fight for this – not only in my life but in the lives of the people I love.
And guess what – fighting is uncomfortable. Whoever went into a battle of any kind excited to possibly get hurt? Maybe they were excited to win or conquer, but nobody wants to get in hurt. Which is why we avoid the fight and we submit to what we want or what the person we love wants. Submitting to the world is not fighting for what Jesus hopes for in our lives. But don’t try to fight on your own. Find out who those people are who will drag you up when you’ve been so knocked down you feel you have nothing left and allow their sometimes harsh and disciplining words to put you back in a place where you can see that Jesus is, and needs to be, on the throne of your life.
If nothing else, I believe in you. Your battle – whatever it is – is hard. There’s no denying that. But surrender, to the ways of the world, is not an option. Fight for the redemption Jesus has already brought you.
the rambling missionary 