Radical Commitment

How different are we from the rest?

Certainly its not a coincidence that the cell group discussed what is "Newness of Life" on Friday and hearing on Sunday - something along that line.

I shared that newness of life is to be a new creation. Our spirit man which was once dead to God has now been made alive through the Holy Spirit. And the second part to this is the way we live our life here on earth. It should be different. We know we have a purpose. We know the reasons for things to happen. And we live a different standard compared to this world. Cos we are a people set apart. We are just peculiar people.

Then a member added on with the renewing of our mind..

Today's sermon touched on Mary Magdelene - the prostitute. But Jesus saw her a a woman, not prostitute. That's how Christ sees us. Not as the world or devil. He knows our pass but sees beyong it. Look at Moses (murdered someone), David (adultery, murder), Jacob (Liar)...

And He calls us by a new name. Having a new name symbolises a new identity. As we see Sara to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul. We are new creations.

What then is required of us?
We need to reject the past. Embrace the new identity. No longer falling back to our old nature. Flesh is to die. As we see from a fruit. To get to the seed (which has the ability to produce life), we need to cut out the flesh.

We also need to witness the death and ressurection of Jesus. To understand the power of His ressurection, we must also embrace His suffering and death. What does this means to us? We must be ready to die for the purposes God has installed for us. Taking up the cross. Just as Mary came to the feet of Jesus. She knew, entering into a house of a pharisee in a manner like this and knowing that people recognise her as a prostitute could cost her her life - stonning. Just as Paul also says to life is Christ and to die is gain.

Mary also came wailing. She was prepared to loose her dignity. Are we?

Thirdly, Mary broke the jar at Jesus' feet. The way to get the fragrance is to break the jar. Breaking comes through suffering, its painful. We need to walk in humility and in weakness. As God's power is manifested when we are weak. God used many weak people - Gideon, Moses etc.

So, am I prepared? I think its been a long time since I pondered upon this. How are Christians living differently from the rest of the people? We grow, get our education, marry, have kids, die...

Wanna make an impact in this world? How will people remember me? I want them to be able to say "She's one different person, trully her God is real"...

God, I recommit myself. Help me remember that bigger things installed for me. I wanna make Your name known to the ends of the earth. Even if it may cost me.

To close, God honoured Mary... she became the first person to preach the gospel - that Chirst has risen, on that Easter morning. Hallelujah!