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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