Why Did Jesus Have to Die? | Crosstraining 11.20.14

James 1:2-3 In High School, I used to hate football practice. I hated putting on all the gear and spending hours of my life running and sweating. One day, I was complaining about having to practice as we were walking out on the field when one of our coaches overheard me. Instead of yelling at me, he just snapped back at me. He said “you don’t have to do this. You can walk away right now if you want. You chose to play. You get to play.” Getting caught complaining slapped me in the face, and I realized that it was a privilege to get to play…even though it wasn’t always the funnest thing to do. When it comes to living our lives for God, alot of people put “should’s” on us. We feel like we have to do this long list of things to be a “good Christian.” This can feel like a heavy weight that can quickly feel overwhelming. While God does have standards for how we live and a purpose for us to live out, we can rest assured that He accepts us no matter where we are. It’s not that we have to do what it is God is asking us to do, it’s that, because of all He has done for us, He has given us the ability to choose to do what He wants us to do. We get the incredible privilege of serving the God of the universe. The next time you feel overwhelmed by all that you feel like you should be doing, remember all that God has done for you to give you the ability to do great things in your life.  ]]>