Concealed Carry
Are you carrying?
Can you carry?
Most Christians today do not look like they do.
Most Christians today do not look like they can.
Most Christians today do not look like they want to.
Most Christians today who look like they do want to carry,
Only carry it for everyone to see.
– But –
Those Christians that DO carry it correctly…have a concealed carry.
Do you realize, that as a Christian, Jesus taught that we are SUPPOSED to carry?
Jesus said:
☆ “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross.”
• Mark 8:34
That is our open carry permit.
To carry our cross.
But what does that mean?
What is it to carry our cross?
– It is the trials & tribulations.
– It is the hardships & troubles.
– It is the problems in relationships.
– It is the difficulties in finances.
– It is the discomfort of health issues.
– It is the persecution from people.
– It is the ability to bear all of these things in humility, in peace,
& maybe even in the joy of The Lord.
Because that is when we know it is all being carried sacrificially IN Christ.
Sadly though, too many Christians are not taught to carry their cross in the ways of the Lord.
They are not told to imitate Christ and live sacrificially.
Instead…They live for themselves
☆ For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
• Philippians 2:21
But if we learn how to live with a concealed carry,
We will be able to carry our cross as a true disciple of Christ.
It is easy forget that The Word teaches us;
All of the issues that we go through, that create the cross that we are supposed to bear,
Are the same issues we need to strengthen us in our character, long-suffering and faith.
☆ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
• James 1:2-4
However, we can find ourselves with a very sneaky, insidious and very deceitful little thing called ‘PRIDE’.
In our unwillingness to look bad or wrong, or in our desire to receive attention or sympathy,
We can carry our cross VERY LOUD!
We can whine about how unfair the hardships are that we have to bear.
~ Or ~
We can boast about how well we take care of any difficulty that comes our way.
☆ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
• Galatians 1:10
Either way, it is selfish pride.
We can be so pridefully self centered by about heavy our cross is,
that we probably don’t even want one
~ Or ~
We can be so pridefully self righteous about how light our cross is,
that we probably don’t even have one.
Either way, that is NOT a Concealed Carry.
That’s a Concealed faith!
It is a lifestyle that is based on serving self.
Which is a lifestyle that is completely backwards to Christ!
☆ “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• Mark 10:43-45
Sadly, that is NOT how the world’s culture sees it.
Sadly, the world’s culture has permeated the church.
Sadly, too many in the church, live that worldly cultured lifestyle.
So…
Sadly, too many Christians are unwilling or unaware of their need to be like Christ.
They were never taught that Christ told us to be ready, and willing, to live with a concealed carry.
Too many Christians don’t believe that the burden of carrying their cross,
Has the same importance that our Savior Christ believes that it does.
☆ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
• 1 Corinthians 1:18
So, let us carry our cross.
Let us carry it boldly.
Let us carry it joyfully.
Let us carry it peacefully.
Let us carry it quietly.
Let us walk through the flames of life, knowing that God will be in there WITH us.
Let us remember that HE would never give us more than we can bear, and whatever we can’t bear…HE CAN AND WILL!
For just like any man who walks around with the security of any weapons of mass destruction can testify to;
When we walk with the concealed carry of our cross, we will shine to those around us, for we know that God is working IN us!
☆ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
• Romans 8:28
Is your cross so heavy that you whine about it?
Is your cross so light you loudly brag about it?
Or;
Is your Cross your way of honoring God, so you are are quiet, because you believe in having a
Concealed Carry!
I love you guys!
