The "Way of Christ"
is a life hidden within a constant flow of forgiveness,
walking inside the
Gift of His Cross
through every step, in every situation.
Ever conscious of His Sacrifice, living under the shadow
of the Bloody Cross and never leaving it.

 
Forgiveness is not a now-and-then event,
it is a very lifestyle that issues
from worship, from adoration of the Savior.

The highest potency of forgiveness lies within the
framework of worship
and worship is - above all -
surrender to lie voluntarily on an altar of sacrifice
out of love for Christ who laid Himself
there for me, for all.

 
Incense in the Holy Place burned always, unendingly.
The incense stands for prayer, constantly
offered, day and night.

Yet . . . there was no fragrance rising to
God's pleasure,
no wafting smoke, without a fire.
A smoldering fire, burning always, never dying out.
No visible flame, just a hidden glowing.
An unending aroma flowed from a tiny fire
ever rising to God's presence.

The scent of the offering . . . this is prayer and
the willingness to burn is forgiveness.

 
A living sacrifice we are and must be,
ever offering ourselves up for the burning of
"selfish flesh" on the altar.

 
That is what offenses do . . . they expose our self-worship,
and enflame the touchy self that
demands all situations to support
our ego and ease.

A flame is ignited by being wronged
and burns either to rage or
to the smoldering end of the
soul's greed for reverence.

 
Many will bear His name, some will live FOR Him
and even die for Him
but few are the "living sacrifices" offered
for perpetual death to be the focus of
humanity's violent hatred of God.
A surrender unto death that is
our "reasonable service of worship."

Many will bear His cross, few will be His living sacrifice.

 
Prayer is not at all about words.
Prayer is a life voluntarily laid on the altar of death,
and ignited to burn deep within its being,
bearing the offenses of His outright enemies,
and . . . His disloyal friends.

This is "filling up what that which is lacking in the sufferings of Christ."
Col. 1:24 NAS

Something far above just the normal forgiveness work,
so beyond my own issue and self.

There is a profound meaning,
a vicarious redemption going on
in my suffering.

It is "bearing in your body the marks of Christ."
Gal. 6:17

 
A mysterious suffering for the salvation of souls,
sharing the agony of Christ for sinners.
It is not about me.
The issue is not my rights
nor my personal pain.

Christ and His need -
this is the pinnacle of forgiveness.

To touch Christ's purpose and His suffering
above your personal pain
is to suddenly see inside the very agony of Jesus
over humanity's willful self-worship
and then . . . enter His heart of
radical, opulent forgiveness.

So He uses our offered body,
our rolling agony, the soul's silent dying
to play out the drama of
mankind's pathetic need.

Accepting the offenses and offering them up to
His Holy Lordship, who alone can bear and take them.
 
"Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar."
Psalm 118:27 NAS
 

This is incense . . . .

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Copyright © 2001 Martha Blaney Kilpatrick