One of my favorite quotes from Justin Fatica, executive director of Hard as Nails Ministries, is..."Feelings and emotions will pass away, but the truth will set you free!" It's a commonly heard phrase at HANM, but every time it comes up it hits the convicted button in my stomach. In a world where feelings and emotions rule most decisions, this is so counter cultural, but in the Christian world it is just everyday life. In the Christian world it doesn't matter if you feel like bringing the Gospel. It doesn't matter if you feel like praying. It doesn't matter if you feel like staying up and talking with someone who needs you. It doesn't matter if you feel like working out and offering it up for people suffering. It doesn't matter what you feel like doing because you know what? Jesus probably didn't feel like being crucified.
If Christ followed His feelings or emotions on the day that He woke up and anticipated the crucifixion - He probably wouldn't have even got out of bed that day! Instead, He realized that it didn't matter how He felt, He knew that He had to die for us because the truth is that we needed Him and we were counting on Him. The truth set Him free - He was free to love us whole-heartedly without holding anything back. PS - remember how Jesus was human? Oh yea, so are we. What if we didn't let feelings or emotions get in the way of loving other people? It's possible to be like Christ. It starts with the small day to day things like getting up early to pray or holding your tongue when you want to put somebody down. So. If it doesn't feel good - do it. Are you ready? It will be good practice for when your crucifixion comes.
