day 40: the next step

"then Jesus said to His disciples, 'if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. what good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? for the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done."

matthew 16:24-27

i am a bit speechless at the moment. sometimes the concept of the cross is so simplified but sometimes the reality of it is overwhelming. the cross demands a response - we must make a choice (i must make a choice). but if our choice is Jesus, if we choose to follow Him, we must give up our lives.

You stood before creation

eternity within Your hand

You spoke the earth into motion

my soul now to stand

You stood before my failure

carried the cross for my shame

my sin weighed up on Your shoulders

my soul now to stand

so what can i say

what can i do

but offer this heart oh God

completely to You

so i'll walk upon salvation

Your Spirit alive in me

this life to declare Your promise

my soul now to stand

so what can i say

what can i do

but offer this heart oh God

completely to You

so i'll stand

with arms high and heart abandoned

in awe of the One who gave it all

so i'll stand

my soul Lord to You surrendered

all i am is Yours

(the stand - hillsong)