by David Brenneman
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:23-25.
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him." Hebrews 10:35-38.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2.
We're to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. Fully. Not part time. Not when a holiday comes around that we feel more warmly about than other times of the year. Not when people haven't irritated us as much today compared to other days. Not when we're giving away so much of our time to wasted ventures in our days that do nothing to grow us in Christ Jesus, nothing that shows anyone that we have salvation and want to tell them about it.
We're quite excited about various things in this world, but where's our excitement about the things of God that make for our becoming more like Jesus? Why do we spend money hand over fist on hobbies or sports yet won't give as much to the work of God that it was given to us to be doing?
We show our hearts whether we are thinking about how it's perceived than we know.
Consider: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37.
What will your life show to you where your heart really was compared to how you think it is?
Satan's schemes involve you being convinced that what is in your life belongs there that has nothing to do with you becoming more like Jesus Christ. They include whatever we allow that keeps us from realizing the truth concerning the things of which we have been convinced that do not and will never bring us into a better relationship with Jesus.
Regardless of what people think...everything we see is doomed to perish. We live in a world that does nothing from a sustainability standpoint. Planned obsolescence is and has been the norm for many many decades. Yet we persist in trying to restore and reclaim the past things that were fond to our hearts. These pursuits are as Solomon wrote...all vanity of vanities.
What does your life show that's truly going on in your heart?
Does it show you loving things other than Jesus? Look at your wardrobe. What does it reflect on who you love? Look at your taste in music. Look around your home. What do these things say that you love? Do these things show you as a fully devoted follower of Christ?
"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17.
What is your heart saying about where your priorities are?
What is your heart showing who's getting your love that belongs only to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?
Jesus's statement to Peter is as much to Peter as it is to each of us. "you follow Me!".
You're not going to be fully truthful to you. Ask with a sincere heart for the Spirit to show you what needs to go from your life and heart and mind. Your sin nature will be very convincing to you that there's nothing amiss in your life.
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds." Jeremiah 17:9-10.
Ask yourself what is getting my attention that belongs to Jesus?
Yes you will stand out as being different. Ambassadors for Christ are supposed to be different. We are representing ourselves.
We fool ourselves when we are convincing ourselves that we're plying our supposed interests in ways to attract people to Jesus. But what does our heart say is true? We shouldn't frequent bars in order to reach the potentially drunk by drinking there. We shouldn't frequent places that are houses of sin in order to supposedly reach people for Christ when we will inevitably get worn down to the point of participating in their debauchery and sins as they are.
We aren't to be practicing sinful lives in order to supposedly reach people for Christ.
We are to put on Christ and show ourselves to be fully devoted followers of Jesus.
Find what's been taking your mind and heart off of being fully devoted to your Savior and get rid of it. No matter the cost because it will cost you in the coinage of the deepest sorrow when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life before Him.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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