Conquest…a different method?

“And having disarmed the powers & authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  Colossians 2:15

A new method of conquest.  Not a conventional one, nor a popular one.  The way of sacrifice.  The way of the servant.  The way of God.  It was a conquest.  Jesus won a major battle.  No doubt about it.  But it was a different method.  A method that got Jesus murdered, mocked, ridiculed, spat upon, and yet glorified, praised, worshipped, and loved. 

The way of the cross.  This is part of the Gospel.  This new method of conquest is littered all throughout the New Testament.  We especially see it in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  For instance,

“Blessed are the meek/gentle, for they shall inherit the earth/land.” Mt. 5:5

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Mt. 5:7

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Mt. 5:9

faithful resistance…

About a two months ago, I started struggling again with my calling to go to Seattle.  Through 2 circumstances, I began to question if I should be going, but to my surprise God was doing a different work.  He was not trying to get me to see my confirmation in calling or to steer me out of that direction.  No, He was taking me into the dark chamber of my heart were the crap is.  I saw things in there that frightened me.  I always knew they were there, but since I always ignored this chamber, I had no idea how bad the situation has gotten.  You know, it is like knowing you have to take the garbage out, but in laziness you let it sit in your kitchen a little longer than it needed it to and the next thing you know, you have created a new species of flies.  What I saw in that chamber surprised me and embarrassed me.  I had no idea that I have grown to be insecure in my faith due to my inadequacies, identity confusion, fears, and selfish desires.  When I saw that, how I longed for a tangible sin issue to be my problem.  That would be easier to tame.  This moment now became an opportunity for me to decide what to with this room.  Close the door and turn my back and know what lingers there.  Or make it beautiful.  I craved beauty and said… “let’s do this.”  This is a beautiful mess.  It is all about perspective.