I do a workout called, "Camp Gladiator." It is always fun times and is a great way that I get rid of stress and some extra pounds. I love doing the squats, the snatches, the running, and even the exercises I've never heard of before. However, there is one exercise that I hate doing, because the next day it is hard to walk. They are called Sharon Deadlifts, named after a great trainer. She has you pick up your dumbells, and then in a wide stance, you lung to one side, then come back to the middle and do a wide stance deadlift, the lung to the other side, then come back to the middle. That by itself is one repetition. I hate doing these things because they press my body out of its comfort zone, and like I said, the next day is a fun time just getting out of bed or off the couch. Jesus died for people like me who hate Sharon Deadlifts. 

Now, of course I am not talking about the exercise here. Jesus did not die on the cross for deadlifts, or any other exercise. It is not a sin to work out and make sure that you are in better shape so that you can love your neighbor better. Yes, it is a blessing to be physically fit so that you can do more for those God has put into your life. Rather, what I am talking about is how God interacts with us in our life. We all want God to make our life easier, and we are mad at Him when the crosses are heavy and seem to never end. We want God to give us a comfortable life without worry, and we are not pleased with Him when we suffer and struggle through each and every day. We are not pleased when God disciplines us in order to strengthen us. As the Good Book says, "Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. ⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. ⁶ For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” ⁷ It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? (Hebrews 12:3-9).  Yes, God brings the cross upon us to strengthen us in this life, lest we fall away from the faith. Hardships are placed in our lives, not because God hates us, but because He loves us and desires to strengthen our faith which relies on Him for all that we need in both body and soul. 

Do we always take these crosses from God as blessings? Do we thank God for making our life difficult and causing us to have anxiety and stress? No, rather we question God at every turn and think that He hates us. Yes, we do not want to suffer, but expect instead for God to make everything peaches and cream in this life. We do not want to wait for heaven to have rest, but instead want God go give us our best life right now. Yes, we do not want pain, but only pleasure and we expect God to grant us happiness and bliss uninterrupted.

This is why Jesus suffered for us on the cross. He suffered to the point of death, even death on the cross, because fail at doing the Sharon Deadlifts. Yes, we fail when it comes to bearing our own crosses. We give in and we give up. Yes, we throw in the towel. Yes, we do not suffer for righteousness sake, or even suffer because of our own sins and mistakes. No, we cave and give up. But Jesus didn't. No, Jesus did not give up, but went uncomplaining forth to the cross for us, to bear our sin, and be our Savior. Yes, Jesus went to the cross and died for our rejection of our Father's loving discipline. Yes, Jesus died because we hate being loved by God. Jesus died because we refuse to bear the cross ourselves. Jesus died, so that, when we fail at bearing our crosses, we are not condemned for it, but forgiven and nourished in holy absolution. Yes, Jesus died so that, when we fail, we may be restored to a right relationship with His Father and our Father. 

My friends, may the Holy Spirit grant us faith to see that every cross that our Father lays upon us is for our good, to crucify the flesh in order that we may rejoice only in the things of Jesus. May the Holy Spirit grant us grace to see that, when we fail, it is not for us to pick up our cross and make something of it, but rather to repent and trust that Jesus died for us at our weakest moments. Yes, Jesus died for us when we drop the cross and can't make it anymore. Jesus died for us, not when we are at out best, but when we can't get out of bed or make it to the couch. Jesus died so that we may be forgiven for all our times that we despise and rejected our Father's good and holy discipline. Yes, we are forgiven for rejecting our crosses. May this comfort us to know that we are not saved because we bear our crosses perfectly, but because Jesus bore His cross perfectly for us that we may be forgiven no matter how many times we fail. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you may hear the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I love you. I forgive you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog