Popquiz: Do you think it is easy to follow God?
If you answered yes you probably just accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior. Welcome to the family. For those who have been walking with God for more than one day has discovered that following God is far from easy. Today's Utmost for His Highest speaks to this. Look what Chambers wrote, “We seem to think that God wants us to give up things! God purified Abraham from this error, and the same process is at work in our lives. God never tells us to give up things just for the sake of giving them up, but He tells us to give them up for the sake of the only thing worth having, namely, life with Himself.”
What is God asking you to give up that is keeping you from Him? A habit? A friendship? A tv show? A specific behavior?
In thinking through this, ask yourself this question, “Am I as close to God as I could be?” If you answered, “No, I could be closer.” Then answer a follow up question, “What’s in the way of God?” The “thing” that comes to mind, might very well be what God is asking you to give up.
Oh…you should be aware of this…giving up your “thing” will not be easy. The reason being is this “thing” meets a need in your life. You rely on it to: calm you down, bring you joy, provide you pleasure, cover a hurt, pick you up, or get you though the day. The reason God wants that “thing” gone is because he wants and expects, you to depend upon him for those very things.
I know…this is hard. But who ever told you following God was easy? This is why you must abide daily. On your own you can’t do it.
I Can’t, Jesus Can, Join Jesus.
Wow! - Brag on God.
Today I thanked God for the job he has blessed me with. Even all the stuff that comes with this job that I wish I didn't have to do.
Now… - Tell God about what's going on in life.
How? - Quit talking and start listening.
Mark chapter 12
12:13-17, I love this line, Jesus said, “‘Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ And they were utterly amazed at him.’”
God expects us to obey both the laws of our government (even if you deem them unfair) and the laws He has established.
In what ways are you breaking both "Caesar's" and God's laws?
What will you do about it?
12:28-31, Jesus said the greatest commandment is, “Listen Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandments greater than these.”
2 Thessalonians chapter 3
3:6 & 14-15, Paul said to “keep away from any brother (fellow christian) who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition they received from us…But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish (to reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner) him as a brother.”
Do this scripture apply to any relationship in your life?
What will you do about it?
Ephesians chapter 1
1:17-19, Paul says, “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him…so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealthy of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.”
Have a blessed day,
Pastor Matt