Who Has Put Them There?

Who Has Put Them There?

by David Brenneman 

"It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding." Daniel 2:21.

"Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." Romans 13:1-7.

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, [2] to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men." Titus 3:1-2.

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

"The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes. Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts." Proverbs 21:1-2.

"They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21.

Regardless of what personal thoughts are concerning those in Church leadership, your job, or in local, state or Federal government...read indeed what the Scriptures say concerning such people. 

Add to such a revelation the Lord's commands for all who are in Christ. 

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.

Consider as well "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.

To knowingly circumvent laws or ordinances or policies that are for certain not against the Word of God is to knowingly sin.

Another subject along the same lines is that of opinions. If our given opinions on these whom the Lord has put over us isn't going to look favorably upon the Lord we ought to keep such to ourselves. 

The critical parts of anything we do in our lives in Christ is whether we are obedient to the Word of God and are walking in the character of Jesus Christ.  

Our sin nature will do whatever it can to convince us of how to get whatever is right in our own estimation.  

But will that which we convince ourselves of keep us right in the eyes of whom we have to do?  

Would Jesus approve of your views, your disposition, towards those whom He has established over you?

Would He frown upon hearing what comes from your heart and out your mouth?

Does that very thought, that your heart is open and laid bare before Jesus, cause you to squirm?

You may not like whom He's established over you, regardless of position, but the truth of the matter is, He put them there.

When all Believers stand before Jesus to give an account of their lives...their obedience to God's Word is the paramount most important part that will be revealed in their lives next to their love of their Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. 

In this, this passage too applies "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7.

Do you need to stop and ask forgiveness for the state of your heart in such things?

Do you need to make right what you've skirted in your doings among men and women?

Review that passage from earlier. Knowing the right thing to do and not doing it, sins.

We have a calling in Christ to grow in the character of Christ. To do this daily. Not just when in Church. 

Yes, there's times when obedience comes at a cost. But in the Lord we have to be obedient to the Lord. 

Pray over your past choices. Pray over your current decisions. Pray as the writer said "see if there be any hurtful way in me" and to lead you in the way everlasting.

You may not be able to take back words you've said. You may not be able to make restitution for things done. But from this day forward you CAN choose to be obedient and to be keeping your thoughts on these things right in God's eyes. 

NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Be on Guard

Be on Guard 

by David Brenneman 

"Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?" Matthew 20:15.

Would Jesus be wrong to bless some more abundantly than others? Would Jesus be wronging anyone whom is a child of God in such a manner?

My Dear Reader it would only indeed be wrong if we try to impart something wrong to the Lord. 

Does Jesus bless some more than others? Yes. Does He withhold blessings from some? Maybe.  

The bigger picture is of that of which we are a part. We are in this here this now at His direction. We are part of His plan for all humanity in this here this now. 

A great danger is to be envious of what He's chosen to bless others with in our point of view.  

He blesses whom He blesses and withholds blessings from whom He chooses to.  

There's other factors involved that we might not be remotely aware of. 

There's potential lessons for us to learn that we haven't even approached yet in our training in righteousness. 

"What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." Romans 9:14-16.

Some, not having grown enough in the Lord, aren't ready for what they believe they deserve out of life.

Some, are actually getting what appears to be blessings but really are not. As Scripture does also say of some, they are receiving their rewards in this life rather than in what's to come.  

Paul taught many people the value of contentment. Of having a lot and doing without. 

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction." Philippians 4:11-14.

Another thought to consider is that we should not be wise in our own estimation. Scripture warns of this as well. Our reactions to God blessing others should not include being envious.   

Likewise those who are abundantly blessed should not spend it on their wanton pleasures either.  

Honestly it can be taken as celebration before the race is won.

All who are in Christ are to run the race set before them with their eyes on the prize. Not taking their focus off Jesus's approval for anything. 

In God's eyes there is no such thing as a retirement plan other than when we cross over from this world to the next. No Believer should take their foot out of the gas, should slow up in their running, should sit to rest, while the race is still set before them.

My Dear Reader are you wiser than your Savior concerning what your being abundantly blessed would do to your walk with Jesus?

Consider these words "Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God." Proverbs 30:8-9.

"Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” Luke 12:15.

In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

We each are growing in Christ at a different pace. We are at different levels.  

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Your Most Important Relationship

Your Only First Real Relationship 

by David Brenneman 

Come, ev'ry soul by sin oppressed—

there’s mercy with the Lord,

and He will surely give you rest

by trusting in His Word.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

For Jesus shed His precious blood,

rich blessings to bestow;

plunge now into the crimson flood

that washes white as snow.

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

Yes, Jesus is the Truth, the Way,

that leads you into rest;

believe in Him without delay,

and you are fully blest. 

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

Come then and join this holy band,

and on to glory go,

to dwell in that celestial land

Only trust Him, only trust Him,

only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you,

He will save you now.

'Only Trust Him' John Stockton 1874.

It always brings great joy to my heart and soul when an old hymn rolls through my thoughts. 

It is an astonishing thing to me to watch people insist on going it alone in life, even though they're claiming they're not. Laying claim to believing in Jesus yet are not trusting in Him...as evidenced by their life's choices. 

In all seriousness...that's treating Jesus like some mere acquaintance rather than the Lord of their lives. 

It's treating Jesus like He is just someone whom you're aware of but aren't seriously trusting for day-to-day life.

It's treating Jesus like...well...just as He said He will say to such people in the final judgment "depart from Me for I never knew you".

Jesus must be more. He must be YOUR more. He must be the deepest part of your life.  

My Dear Reader if you're not trusting in Him fully, completely, then you're in real danger of never having had a real relationship with Jesus. 

You were meant to have a deep loving relationship with Jesus. Not something superficial. Not something optional. 

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. Do you know His voice? Do you listen for it?  

We don't know how long Adam and Eve walked with Jesus before the fall. We don't have it in words just how painful the new separation between them was but we do know that it indeed was painful for both them and Jesus. The lives of a few animals were among the first costs of the first sins. Killed to make coverings for them.  

Broken relationships are everywhere these days and people are craving anything and sometimes anyone to try to fill that God shaped void in their hearts. 

Broken relationship after broken relationship because people aren't asking Jesus to be a critical part of the relationship.  

Careers failing due to various reasons but in the thick of things was Jesus really a part of that career?  

We tend to mentally separate parts of our lives...and inadvertently include Jesus.  

Jesus is to be Lord of all or He isn't Lord at all. 

There is no 'me time' away from Jesus. That, my Dear Reader, ought to scare you to your core if you ever find yourself justifying a thought such as that one. 

Pursue your relationship with Jesus with your everything. Ahead of whatever love you have for anyone in your life. Jesus said so.  

Only trust Him only trust Him now. 

Those who want God's best will leave the choice to Him.

Ours is to trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. 

Are you developing your relationship with Jesus or are you satisfied with doing your own thing?  

Are you going to be ashamed at how your relationship with Jesus will be revealed when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life or will you be excited to see Him?

You, My Dear Reader, you must choose to be all in with your relationship with Jesus. Not part time but all the time. 

To Live

To Live

by David Brenneman 

"Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live; Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; Love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. Prize her, and she will exalt you; She will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; She will present you with a crown of beauty.” Hear, my son, and accept my sayings And the years of your life will be many. I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; And if you run, you will not stumble. Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked And do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; Turn away from it and pass on." Proverbs 4:4-15.

"My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them And health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you a deceitful mouth And put devious speech far from you. Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you. Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil." Proverbs 4:20-27.

Oh to actually relish learning from the Lord! To look forward to the future in the Lord! To seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. To want to live in the way that the Spirit is teaching us!

Well, in all truthfulness, there's probably the wanting but the things of this world are certainly not helpful in striving to train in righteousness the way that we're to be learning.

The probable first place to begin is to stop allowing time with Jesus to be an option. He isn't an option He's a person, one of the 3 that makes up God Almighty. You make commitments to people and people only.  

Remove whatever is getting in the way of your dedicated time to meet with your living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Remove whatever is in the way of you spending time, both morning and evening, with Jesus.  

Jesus died for you to make it possible for you to be saved through His shed blood. This, my Dear Reader, trumps everything this world has going on in it. Everything.  

An this isn't meeting with Jesus as you meet with a doctor or a lawyer. When you're with Jesus you shouldn't keep looking at your watch to see when it's going to be a good time to get back to whatever you were doing. 

Read what was written in that passage above again. Read it once more.  

Anything we are putting ahead of willful time with Jesus is expendable. Not the other way around. Time with Jesus is never to be considered expendable to a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

So what that you'll sacrifice some sleep. Read the Gospels again. Read how often Jesus sacrificed sleep to meet with His Father. He is our role model, not our suggestion. 

So what that you'll miss out on this or that. A fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ puts Jesus Christ first. Before hobbies, before sports, before movies, before books, before pets, before people, before work, before television, before gaming. Before everything.  

We read it straight from Jesus. Take up your own cross and follow Me.

Not your own cross AND anything.  

Not your own cross AND someone. 

Just you, following after Jesus with just your own cross. 

We often know we can and will find wisdom and knowledge in the Scriptures and in our time with Jesus. We also know what it will mean in what we will need to give up. Which is probably why many in the professing Church are lukewarm concerning their walk with Jesus. 

My Dear Reader, you will not live a life that's acceptable to God by not heeding the words of His Word. 

Countless people will stand before Jesus one day trying to argue that their lives were good and acceptable enough to get into Heaven. Jesus said already that He will tell such people to "depart from Me for I never knew you".

Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him. 

No one gets in who does not pass His gold standard which is salvation through Jesus Christ alone.

For those who are saved in Christ Jesus, our lives will be tested by the fire of God's truth n whatever remains is given back to Jesus.  

Will the kind of dedication you're showing in living your life...give Him anything in return for all He's done for you?

Think about that today and tomorrow too. Are you intentional about and do you look forward to meeting with Jesus? 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

The Path, Not A Path Among Many

The Path, Not A Path Among Many 

by David Brenneman 

"My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew. My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion, So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the Lord; But He is intimate with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted. The wise will inherit honor, But fools display dishonor." Proverbs 3:1-35.

Yes that was a lot to read, however, we ARE the wiser for having taken it in.

You can turn any direction in life seeking to know which way you should go, how you should live your life, but only one path is for the followers of Jesus Christ. 

Are you beginning your day seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness?  

Are you starting off standing firm in what you have been taught in the Lord?

Do you see in these verses those thoughts and ideas?

You're not being shown the way you should be going to "take the fun out of life". You're being shown the path of the life chosen for you to live that brings the most honor and glory to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Father in Heaven said, not just to Peter, James and John, "This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him!".

The bling of this world does look appealing. For a time it might even bring some semblance of satisfaction. However it always, inevitably, leaves you empty. 

It cannot last because it's not derived from a right relationship with Jesus Christ. 

You, my Dear Reader, if indeed you claim the Name of Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord have a divine appointment at the end of your life with Him to give an account of your life. 

What will your life show? Greediness? Slothful living? Selfishness? 

Or will it show a person after God's own heart? The fruit of the Spirit on full display so much that people indeed saw Jesus in your life rather than you. 

The passage in Proverbs that we read, like it says in Luke 12, is for our instruction. We need to be taught how to walk with Jesus. We need to change our way of thinking to that which He says is important and true. 

A life of work is nothing. 

Truly a life of retirement is nothing.

If what we are doing isn't being done to show we're listening to the Lord rather than men and women then we're failing the test.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.

There's a definite physical change when we are intentional about our spiritual condition in the Lord. 

Go back and reread the opening Scripture again. Try what I have for over 6 months now. A chapter a day of Proverbs. There's 31 chapters so each month is fully doable. Repeat it every month. Take in the wisdom of the Lord make it a part of your life. 

Look forward to your divine appointment with excitement rather than uncertainty or dread.

Pray on, pray over, pray through. 

Keep your appointment with the Lord today and be sure to be in prayer and in His Word to you. 

Only Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

More as Defined by God

More as Defined by God 

by David Brenneman 

"Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:13-21.

Adversity isn't really relished by anyone if we're all going to be honest. Some may say they do like the challenge but in reality that's probably not quite true. When it comes at a person suddenly and with significant force, it's highly likely that it's an unwelcome thing. 

Yet, for those who are among the saved in Christ Jesus, adversity is a tool of the Spirit of God to transform our lives, and hearts especially, into people after God's own heart. We just more often than not neglect to remember such things in the heat of the moment. 

Yet within these things, the incredible things of God show up. 

But, my Dear Reader, we must be looking for them. We should be expecting both the adversity as well as God's provision within it...acn when God provides...He certainly provides. 

With respect concerning this last season or so of my life I really do now have a kind of understanding with regards to what going through labor pains and the joyful results after the birth in life.

Only in relation to what is being written today, but nonetheless I think it appropriate to word it as Jesus did. "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you." John 16:20-22.

The world isn't going to get it when we have joy in the midst of adversity. Most would probably consider our need to be seeing professional help. 

When I survey what my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my Father in Heaven, has done with my life and what I get to do now...I am in awe. 

To those whom I have spoken to about these things that have lead up to today...all I can use to describe it is that it's been beyond anything that I could have asked for or thought of. I have told the original owner of the company that it really is awesome to work where I am, doing what I get to do, to help people communicate. I never would have thought that it would be possible to so enjoy what I get to do would be wrapped up in "find something to do that you enjoy and you'll never work a day in your life".

God provided such a thing for me. The labor pains have passed. This new life He's set before me has arrived. 

My Dear Reader, this isn't just for certain people in Christ.  

It begins with obedience to God's Word and sticking to your commitment to prayer and sustained time in His Word. I would argue that every month of unemployment was, in each their own way, a miracle of His provision. In providing food, work, whatever was needed. God did it. For me, I couldn't do anything less than stick to praying more, more heartfelt and earnestly. Couldn't do anything less than remain committed to my morning's and my evening's in His Word. Being available when He said this is the way you should go. 

The fingerprints of God are all over every single spiritual birthing process we go through.  

Keeping your mind set on Him.

Keeping yourself set on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world, matters. 

Standing firm, matters. 

Considering prayer to be essential, matters. 

Realizing your life isn't yours to live your way but whatever way the Spirit needs your life to go is transforming.  

Are you really ready for more than you can possibly imagine, more than you could ever ask for or think possible?  

Turn your eyes upon Jesus and never look back, never look anywhere else for what you really need in living life to the full.

Be what you're supposed to be. 

A fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  

Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead in Christ. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Fully Devoted Follower

Fully Devoted Follower 

by David Brenneman 

"For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God, The God who girds me with strength And makes my way blameless? He makes my feet like hinds’ feet, And sets me upon my high places. He trains my hands for battle, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, And Your right hand upholds me; And Your gentleness makes me great. You enlarge my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped." Psalms 18:31-36.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

When Jesus called the Disciples, married, single, they devoted themselves to His calling of them. 

What we read this morning shows us that obedience is required on our part, without excuse, to be shown as being fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. 

To be truthful, as always, I won't even let myself go to bed without keeping my commitment to be in the Word of God each evening. So I won't get as much sleep, big deal. I saw it wonderfully put in a devotional the other day: We don't get through a day with what Jesus has for us to be doing without His strength to be doing it. 

You're not going to make it very well or far by overpacking your life with many things and refer to your commitment to being in the Word of God as optional.

Was Jesus ever portraying Himself as having other options than going to the cross to provide salvation for all who would be calling on His Name?

He knew the Scriptures since it was He who wrote them and knew that obstacles would be trying to get in His way to the cross. He knew His enemy, the Devil, would try everything from things with an apparent good look of honest gain up to and including murder to try to prevent it.

You think that Satan's game has changed? You're dealing in foolishness if you believe that at any time he's given up on anyone who's a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. He just needs to ask permission first. But we also aid and abed the enemy by choosing to do things in our lives that harm our own walk with Jesus. 

We harm our own race from being ran with all diligence by not removing every encumbrance but instead add things on our backs that slow us down. 

Things that appear to be good and acceptable that probably are...but aren't for the fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. 

We harm ourselves with petty things that do just enough to cast a shadow on the light of Jesus Christ in our lives. 

We treat the training in righteousness we are to be engaged in as optional. 

This is a lie of Satan himself. 

Read the Gospels again and look for those people who were trying to be crafty with their questions to Jesus about just what was really required to follow Him. 

Jesus showed every one the error in their thinking. 

Look for the error in your own thinking. Look at your commitment to your life in Christ. 

Is it all that it could be?

Are you really showing full devotion to Jesus or are you putting on a show?

Remember Scripture says that the Lord knows your heart. He searches it all the time. So while you might have been quick to answer that question, you might revisit your answer. 

Be the fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ that you are claiming to be and the one He wants to make you.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

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