Christianity is not a crutch: it’s a cross.
I believe this – but everything in me fights against it.
When I first became a Christian, I anticipated inner peace, the gift of niceness and (if possible) a smokin’ hot boyfriend. Didn’t happen.
Instead, Jesus lifted up the carpet, tore off the curtains and overturned me. He took my life as it was, and He ruined it.
I should have seen it coming.
In the bible, Jesus is “the Stone” (Isaiah 8:14-15). And He says this: “Everyone who falls on that Stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” (Luke 20:18). When we meet Jesus, we either fall on Him and are shattered – or we stay where we are and get crushed.
My life is built around safety and self-protection and sin and self. ‘Jesus’ I say, ‘you can tidy up the edges: but don’t move the furniture. I don’t want any mess’.
Jesus doesn’t give me this option. Instead, He shows up on my doorstep with a JCB . ‘I love you’ he says ‘and I promise to ruin your life’.
‘If you follow me, you’re gonna die. But here’s my offer: Die in me and live.”
No-one wants to be shattered. But falling on a broken Saviour, means being broken ourselves.
Luke 20:18 never made sense to me until now, Thank you! this is beautiful and will surely ruin my life too! x
Jesus totally ruins lives…my life was so much easier when I wasn’t a Christian! No going back though – I choose death in Him, every time (most times. Sometimes. Once in a blue moon…)
This is brilliant.
I love this. Actually I hate it, but it’s true. And it’s the only way that being crushed is safe. It makes no sense, but it works. And I can entrust Jesus with all those broken pieces of me because he is kind and strong, and knows brokenness more than I do.
Thanks for the encouragement Emma!
wow, I have never understood that verse in that way until now. Thanks!