Be Faithful

Revelation 2:10
“Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

You have to get to the place in your walk of faith where you can honestly say, Lord, let this be where I die. I say this with a heavy heart. I say this from a posture that I have just recently had the grace over my life to enter. I say this with eyes full of tears and a heart full of patient endurance. I say this while sitting at the feet of the One who has told me to not be afraid. The One who is the First and the Last, The Living One, The One who holds the keys to death and hell.

I often wonder, God how is this gospel supposed to be attractive? How is the gospel of embracing death in order to have a victor’s crown placed on us supposed to “win the lost”? The essence of the gospel is not even attractive to Christians let alone those who don’t even carry your name on their lips.

What I have realized is all I can control is my declaration. My life. My story. So, I have told God, let this be where I die. As long as you are lifted up as my kingdoms fall, let this be where I die. As long as your name is glorified, let this be where I die. Oh Lord I lay me down. Lord, help me to lay me down.

My prayer is that many find their Gethsemane. The place of pressing. The place where you say Lord, not my will, but Your will. The place where you hand your life over and say, Lord let this be where I die.

Jesus used His life here on earth as an example. What we’ve done is made death, burial and resurrection be all about what Jesus did for us. Which is 100% correct. With that said I believe there is a hidden invitation for those who truly want to say, Lord, let this be where I die. Jesus shows us, through His death, burial and resurrection, how to lay down our life for the will of God the Father. He left an example for us of what it would look like for those who truly submit to the will of God.

At some point your story will include your own crucifixion. A crucified life is the only life that God can use.

This song by Lauren Daigle captures the essence of what God calls everyone to do who desires to do the will of their Father in Heaven.

Once And For All by Lauren Daigle

God I give You all I can today
These scattered ashes that I hid away
I lay them all at Your feet

From the corners of my deepest shame
The empty places where I’ve worn Your name
Show me the love I say I believe

Oh Help me to lay it down
Oh Lord I lay it down

Oh let this be where I die
My lord with thee crucified
Be lifted high as my Kingdom’s fall
Once and for all, once and for all

There is victory in my Saviors loss
And In the crimson flowing from the cross
Pour over me, pour over me yes

Oh let this be where I die
My lord with thee crucified
Be lifted high as my Kingdom’s fall
Once and for all, once and for all

Oh Lord I lay it down
Oh Lord I lay it down
Help me to lay it down
Oh Lord I lay it down

Oh let this be where I die
My Lord with thee crucified
Be lifted high as my Kingdom’s fall
Once and for all

Once and for all
Oh once and for all
Once and for all