We are tested.

'Often we are unconscious how powerful our self is until tested in regard to material matters. At times it seems we require more grace to lose our wealth than to lose our life! Earthly things truly represent an acid test for soul life. God’s children who indulge in eating and drinking and in ease and comfort need a deeper cutting away of the cross to free their spirit from the bondage and influence of the soul and to be free to live in God. Any who still hanker after the things of the world have yet to learn how to lose their soul life through the deep penetration of the cross.'  The Spiritual Man - Watchman Nee

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Society tells me I'm allowed to desire all the things I desire and it screams at me that it's NORMAL. 
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People around us tells us that it's fine to do worldly things. If we admit our guilt and desire not to do these worldly things we are again reassured that everything is fine. We hear it so often it is easy to believe the what we are told by God is evil, is now good. So much evil is now called good and if people dare to call that declared good- evil then they are looked upon as awful, horrendous, terrible, heartless people. No longer is evil- evil and the cup is almost entirely full to overflowing. As it was in the days of Noah it is now. As it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, it is now.

We are each 'tested' in regards to material matters- this is truth!

We are TRIED.

Jas_1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

1Pe_1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

And our CROSS is just that a CROSS- an instrument of DEATH that we bear- if it were a GOOD thing, then we wouldn't have to BEAR it, it wouldn't be a burden to bear but a joy to take hold of.  We take up a cross DAILY and that cross is the willingness to put to death our flesh nature, our carnal nature, our soulical-self all in order to allow the spirit to lead us.  This willingness to pick up our cross is all part and parcel of denying ourselves all worldly treasures that long to get their hooks in us and never let us go.

What do you have in your life you are simply NOT willing to give up?  What people, what things, what treasures?

Remember this--

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 

Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Let us lay up our treasures in heaven- let us think of our heavenly treasures as the cross is laid before us daily and by the GRACE and MERCY of our LORD, through HIS love that we don't deserve, let us pick up that cross.