Lent Reading: Quote of the Day 5

From Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book Meditations on the Cross, the chapter entitled "Discipleship & the Cross" based on Mark 8:31-38 (Jesus rebukes Peter for rebuking him).

Just as Christ is Christ only in suffering and rejection, so also are they disciples only in suffering and rejection, in being crucified with Christ...

The mediation of this inalienable truth to the disciples, however, begins, strangely enough, with Jesus once again giving his disciples complete freedom. Jesus says: "If any want to become my followers." That is to say, this is not self-evident even among the disciples themselves. No one can be coerced, nor can it be experted of anyone; rather: "If any," despite despite all of the other offers made to you, still want to become my followers... So once again, everything depends on one's decision. (Emphasis his)

While I remain firm in my belief of the sovereignty of God, He clearly has placed our fate in our own hands. We must choose Christ. The choice is not thrust upon us. Will I continue to choose Christ, even after I have chosen the first time and then later realized all of the other ways I can live?

(By the way, you didn't miss the Day 4 quote. I didn't post one. The reading didn't lend itself to excerpt.)

Lent Reading: Quote of the Day 3

From Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book Meditations on the Cross, the chapter entitled "The Path of God" based on Luke 4:5-8 (Jesus temptation by the Devil).

As the Messiah of Jewish dreams, he could have liberated Israel and led it to glory and honor. His entry procession could have been that of he visible king of this world. What a remarkable man he was, a man to whom dominion over the world is offered even beore he begins his own work. And he is all the more remarkable in that he rejects the offer.

When am I too eager to accept any means to a good end, rather than making sure not only my goal is good, but also my path to the goal?