“A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.)”

Mark 15:21 NLT

There are a lot of mysteries when it comes to Scripture, and this is one of them – Simon from Cyrene. A man who had never been mentioned before and a man who would never be mentioned again in the Gospel story. I don’t know what happened to him after he helped Jesus carry His cross, but I can only imagine that it was life changing!

I envision an awful mess! Jesus – tired and bloody – carrying an undeserved cross. Some people cheering. Some people mourning. The confusion of the moment. The corruption of the Passover.

All Simon wanted to do was celebrate the freedom, renewal and faith of his people. But instead, He was thrust into the spotlight of following Jesus. And he found it was not an easy task as the cross is a heavy burden to bear.

I can’t imagine how Simon felt when he had to give up his own way that day to carry the cross of Jesus! He was commanded to share the weight of the cross and to suffer for hours as they made their way up to the top of the hill. But what an honor it must have been to be a part of the work of God – even if it was just a small part. His submission to the powers that be to sacrifice his day to suffer with Jesus, I must say, is inspiring and admiring.

But I am thankful that we live on the other side of that cross! Simon was forced to follow Jesus. But we are left with a choice.

Jesus told his disciples long before his crucifixion that “If any of you want to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

And taking up your own cross is hard! But just as Simon is forever identified with Jesus, when we walk in the footsteps of Jesus – submitting ourselves to Him, sacrificing our own desires, and suffering for the sake of good – we too, become forever a part of God’s plan.

When you choose to follow Jesus, the mysteries of the Gospel begin to unfold. The power of the cross is displayed. And the Life of the Holy Spirit is declared! This mystery was revealed to the early disciples when the grave was found empty. And it’s revealed to us when we empty ourselves.

It might sound like an easy choice to make. But it’s not an easy journey. Carrying our cross is hard work! But we can be confident that the suffering we endure by denying ourselves for Christ will bring joy in the morning because we become the work of God!

“For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.”

1 Peter 2:21 NLT

Saturday Soul Search

“There’s nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.”

2 Timothy 3:15-17 MSG

I have big ambitions when it comes to jigsaw puzzles. I love the challenge of finding the right fit and solving the mystery of where each piece fits in the big picture. The problem though is that I buy the ones with 1000 pieces and my patience won’t ever let me finish what I started. The beautiful picture of what I’m creating seems worthy, but the diligence of understanding where each piece fits, seems daunting. And unless I’ve had help, I have never completed one of those puzzles on my own. It goes right back into the box and forgotten about.

I have big ambitions to solve another puzzle too. It’s the beatuiful picture of Jesus’s love that is found in The Bible. Scripture, written to be transformative, shared, and testified to, should help us grow in character and maturity. But it too, can be daunting to fully understand where each piece fits into our everyday faith.

I believe there are probably many hearts lost to the lack of understanding of what the words really mean. It’s hard, for even seasoned believers, to fully understand where each piece connects to the next, and it can be overwhelmingly discouraging especially for new believers and seekers. Many, unfortunately, just give up because they can’t see the big picture.

But help can come in many ways. Sometimes the missing pieces comes from Jesus himself as we spend time in prayer and reflection. Sometimes we experience a revelation from God as we live our daily lives. Sometimes we’ll find a piece from a friend or during fellowship. And sometimes we get to put a piece in place for others.

God rejoices just to see the work begin. Even if we despise small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10), take it piece by piece and be patient. Don’t put Scripture away because it’s too big to understand. Let God and others help you put it together for His worthy cause and for the tasks He has for you.

His beautiful picture awaits! Don’t be afraid to ask! What puzzling piece can Jesus help you find today? Who might need your help with the big picture? How can someone else help you?

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT

Sometimes it’s really hard for me to write. Mainly ‘cause I trip myself up with the fact that my audience is mostly seasoned believers who have all heard the name of Jesus. My mind wanders to the inadequacy of revealing any new insights or sharing anything fresh. And so I frequently refrain from expounding on the wonderful messages God gives me as I create what I call a writer’s block, for no other reason than me reducing God’s glory in my selfish insecurity. I guess the saying is true that the devil really does lie in the details.

But I’m sure there is a lesson to learn here. Cause this morning as I was doing just that, God brings me this verse (Ephesians 3:20). He reminds me that it’s not about what I write, but it’s about what He does with it. I don’t know the needs of each individual heart that reads. I don’t know the souls that are weary and burdened and broken. All I see are people who seem strong in their faith and I think “who am I to teach them anything?”

But I forget that what I think is inadequate is God’s starting point for His glory.

And then, I see this too. A beautiful flower bouquet on the bank of a river – growing out of rock. God brings beauty in the places we can’t imagine. And He uses every part of our daily lives as an opportunity to share His grace and His glory.

So today, I have nothing else to say except don’t underestimate the power of the work that God is doing in you and through your experiences. Even the greatest theological giants get broken, weary and tired, and you never know what beauty might be found in a simple word of encouragement.

Everything is beautiful in God’s time. And what you don’t need today, you may need tomorrow. So, as you go through this day, make a note of the beautiful encounters that you have with Jesus and don’t be afraid to share them. Whether it’s fertile soil or dry rocky banks, God sees opportunity. Trust Him with the results of you doing your part to share in His glory now and for generations to come.

12 words

What we may see as inadequate, God sees opportunity for His glory.

Lord God, thank you for the opportunities that you put before us each day to see your glory and your grace. Bring us awareness of each of them, no matter how insignificant we think they are, and help us to use them to worship you, to teach others about you, and to bring glory to your name. We trust you Lord to do more than we can ever imagine with the encounters we have with you. Amen.

Photo taken on Engineer Pass – Lake City, Colorado