Tuesday // 5th November 2024
*Crucify your Ego!*
*I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me.*
*Galatians 2:19* MSG
If there is ever a time in your life to deny yourself and lose, it’s when you feel someone has hurt your feelings. The same is true when you correct someone in Christ and they not only reject it, but they retaliate by trying to defame you. When someone hates you out of jealousy, and with malice in their heart and spreads vicious lies about you, you need the cross.
You also need the cross when someone doesn’t meet your expectations. Christians who feel offended easily resist the cross. And Christians who retaliate to protect their reputations and self-interests do not know the cross. Our flesh seeks to defend itself, justify itself, get angry, lash out, and retaliate. Sometimes it does this with religious talk under the cloak of *God told me*. But the flesh will never sacrifice itself or absorb the blows. Instead, it will be quick to sacrifice others on the altar of one’s feelings.
Those who do not know the cross cannot tolerate loss, suffering, or correction. And they can’t remain silent. Instead they react carnally, even calling their reaction *being led by the Spirit.*But this is deception. These reactions are the fruit of an unbroken person who has made himself or herself top priority.
The cross of Christ bids us to die, to lose, to surrender. The cross is required for brokenness, and brokenness is required for a life that’s marked by God’s power. Nobody can alter this principle.
Your brother in Christ,
Apostle Ashok Martin