Give it All

"Large crowds were traveling with Jesus,

and turning to them he said:

'If anyone comes to me

and does not hate his father and mother,

his wife and children,

his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--

he cannot be my disciple.

And anyone who does not carry his cross

and follow me cannot be my disciple. . .

In the same way,

any of you who does not give up everything he has

cannot be my disciple.'"

Luke 14:25-27, 33

He loved God and followed His commands all of his life.  He spent much of his time studying God's law and putting it into practice.  He wanted so much to please God and live forever with Him.  When the man heard that Jesus the Messiah was close by, he took the chance to find out the answer to his question.

"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus answered just how he expected; "Keep the commandments."

"Well, I've done that since I was a boy!"

Jesus knew this was a man who took His Father's law seriously.  "There is one more thing;  Give all you have away to the poor and come follow me."

He couldn't believe He would ask such a thing.  Give away all of His riches?  How foolish and risky that would be!  What would he and his family live on?  No. . .that is too much to ask.. . I just can't do it. (Mark 10:17-31)

It's easy to sympathize with the young rich ruler.  He had it all but he didn't live for his own comfort, as is so common to do.  Instead, he tried to live his life in a way that pleased God.  All he wanted was the assurance of God's acceptance of his offerings.  Unfortunately, he went away sad because Jesus asked for more than he was willing to give.  The young man wanted to please God only if it came on his own terms.  He would try to do his best for God, but only if he could decide the means he would use.

I am so like this young man.  My heart desires to please God, but there are certain places I won't go, specific things I won't give up, or particular people I want by my side.  If, however, I truly want to delight in the Lord, I must be prepared to give it all.

My Heart

Mother Teresa, a tireless servant of Jesus Christ who worked with the lowest of the low in the slums of Calcutta, India said, "A clean heart is a free heart.  A free heart can love Christ with an undivided love in chastity, convinced that nothing and nobody will separate it from his love."  This is how she was able to do the unthinkable: care for lepers, love the unlovable, nurse the hopeless.  Her heart was entirely devoted to Jesus, loving Him in the way she gave attention to the lost and suffering of this world.

When David prayed for God to, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me," (Psalm 51:10) he was committing himself back to the One he loved above all else.  He was throwing himself at God's mercy, knowing that He alone could rid him of all that distracts his heart from His true Love.  Only Jesus can capture my heart in such a way that my passion is for Him alone.

Many times, however, the trappings of this world, the worries that threaten to overtake me, or my inner drive to make a name for myself can take away from my One True Love.  How many times is my heart tainted with other than pure devotion to God?

What am I unwilling to give up for Jesus.  Which parts of my heart am I retaining for my own purposes and pleasure?  I could secretly want some recognition for the good things that I do.  Maybe it's hard for me to act selfishly, where there's no pay off for me.  It's likely that my heart is more devoted to my comfort than to following God's calling on my life.

Whatever I find to be the holdup, I must realize and accept that a pure heart is free from anything selfish that would keep me from following Jesus without hesitation.

If I want to delight the Lord, I will be ready to give my whole heart to Jesus.

My Mind

There are problems to solve, past conversations to analyze, blame to place, plans to make, work to perform, hurts to examine, revenge to plan and behavior to understand.  My mind is a battlefield, and if I want to have any chance of winning that fight, I will need to power of God to help me change the focus from me to Him.  

Even though there is much to capture the attention of my thoughts, it is possible to use my mind in a way that shows love and respect for God.  The Apostle Paul teaches me to focus my thoughts on things that will please God.  He says in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anythings is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Virtuous and commendable thoughts are those that dwell on all the good that God is doing, not on all the problems and difficult circumstances that He allows for my good.  A friend of mine says that our words, spoken or thought, "create life or death.  Look at every problem as an opportunity for God to show Himself in ways unimaginable."  My life would change immensely if I viewed conflict or suffering as a way for God to display His mighty power instead of as a hardship.

Dwelling on the difficulties that come my way by asking myself Why does everything have to happen to me? or wondering, Great; what else can happen to make my life even worse than it already is? is counteractive to my faith in God.  Joyce Meyer talks about God's purposes for the hard things or difficult tasks He brings my way.  She said, "God doesn't tell you to do hard things so He can stand back and laugh and watch you struggle.  He tells you to do the things He knows are gonna work out to your good in the end." (Romans 8:28)  Keeping my mind focused on the good that will come out of the bad is pleasing to God.  

In addition, my thoughts not only can look negatively on my circumstances, but also on my own self.  When I think negatively about certain aspects of my character, I am tearing apart one of God's image-bearers: Me.  For instance, I have the habit of saying or thinking that I have a big mouth.  Thankfully, a friend of mine recently corrected my thinking.  She said, "You are assertive and can see the what needs to be done.  You speak up for others in a way that they cannot do for themselves."  When she put it like that, I instantly could feel myself sit up a bit straighter and my thinking began to turn more positive.  Putting myself down is not humility, it is showing a disregard for God's grand design.

No matter how strongly my thoughts naturally turn toward the negative, a mind dedicated to Jesus will be transformed into a mind that pleases God.

My Will

My will is defined by Merriam-Webster as, "a disposition to act according to principles or ends."  In other words, my will is what gives me the drive to make a decision.  This determination or resolve can work toward my favor and support my desires, or it can push me closer to Christ.  When my will yields to Christ, I will act in a way that pleases God.  When, however, my will is solely set on me and my wishes, then I'm only gratifying myself.

Thankfully, God is not a bully who breaks my will and forces me to obey Him.  He sends situations and hard times into my life to help me to see those parts of me of which I must let go in order to come to Jesus as I am, ready to let Him work through me.  Fear, worry, anxiety and doubt are obstacles that get in the way of my access to Him.  God, however, never gives up on me.  He compassionately and relentlessly pursues me with His persistent love, guiding me in the way I can go, if I will only choose.

Allowing God to have access to my life comes only with my blessing.  He will not force Himself upon me, but waits to be invited.  As Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 ESV, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

A closer relationship with Jesus that goes beyond a Savior/Saved association, must be initiated by me.  I must desire to make Him Lord of my life.  As Oswald Chambers explained regarding those things to keep me from giving Jesus lordship, "The Holy Spirit will locate the one impregnable thing in you, but He cannot budge it unless you are willing to let Him."

My will is the one thing that can get in the way of Jesus having full ownership of my life.  Sure, there are sin struggles, fleshly strongholds and other barriers; but all of those can be removed by Jesus.  I, however, must permit Him access to my life.

As strong as my will may be, it is only possible to please God is I am agreeable to give ultimate sovereignty over my life to Him.

Simply wanting to please God on my own terms is not enough.  I must be willing to give my whole heart to Jesus, dedicate my mind to thoughts that please Him, and give Him complete access to my life.  In these ways I will do what the eager, young rich ruler would not do: Follow Jesus.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my thought life turned toward the good things God is doing.

How does my heart betray my true focus?

When do I unintentionally set my will against God?

Let God Exalt

"'For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,

and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'

Then Jesus said to his host,

'When you give a luncheon or dinner,

do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives,

or your rich neighbors;

if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, 

the crippled, the lame, the blind,

and you will be blessed.

Although they cannot repay you,

you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'"

Luke 14:11-14

As I rounded the corner, suddenly she loomed up in front of me, her beauty and majesty taking up my entire field of vision.  "I've missed Mt Rainier."  I sighed to my husband as I took in all 14,410 ft of her snow-covered splendor.  I grew up at the foot of this dormant volcano, seeing her spectacular beauty every day of my life.  Despite her magnificence, I took her presence for granted, not realizing how astonishing was her sight until I moved to the other side of the country where mountains are covered in trees and much less remarkable.

Just as God makes evident the majesty of His creation without ever needing the help of the created to toot her own horn, so I should let God be the one to do any exalting that needs to be done in my life.  The world tells me to let others know of my accomplishments, to be proud of who I am, to expect the best out of life and to give with the intention of receiving something in return, even if its just the good feeling that comes with helping others.

God's kingdom, however, operates under a different set of parameters.  His way teaches things that run counter to my fleshly way of thinking, as well as to what the world teaches.  Living life His way, however, is the only way to please Him.

The Proud

He was at the pinnacle of his career.  His empire spread to the far reaches of the known earth and everyone feared his name.  His building projects were infamous and innovative.  He spear-headed a venture to build a ten-mile wall to surround his city.  This fortification boasted enough room for two houses to stand face to face on top with enough space in between to drive a 4-horse chariot.  No one else could accomplish that but him, the mighty Nebuchadnezzar.

One day as he was walking among his famed hanging gardens on top of his palace, his chest puffed with pride as he surveyed his great city.  "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30)

Immediately, God set to work humbling the man, just as He promised He would do in a dream that so distressed Nebuchadnezzar a year before. Unfortunately, the king didn't take Daniel's advice to turn from his sinful and wicked ways, but continued living as he always had for the twelve months to come.

God has a way of humbling a man, as the once proud king said at the end of his 7-year time of insanity.  (Daniel 4:31-34)   For Nebuchadnezzar, it took a time acting like an animal and behaving in a way that would earn him a one-way-ticket to the insane asylum in this day and age.  What does it take for me?  

Perhaps God will need to take away my health to show me that a vigorous, well-working body comes from Him.  Maybe He'll place me in a position where I'm all alone as my family abandons me for greener pastures, teaching me that He is the only source who can fill my needs.  It could be that He will show me Who's really in charge by removing His favor from me as I watch my world crumble around me.

Whatever the method, God knows how to humble a man, or a woman for that matter. (Daniel 4:37) The question is, how will I respond?  Oswald Chambers describes the humbling process like this.  "You have had the vision, but you are not there yet by any means.  It is when we are in the valley,  where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back.  We are not quite prepared for the blows which must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. The battering always come in commonplace ways and through commonplace people."

In order to please God I will need to let Him use whatever means necessary to humble me.

The Humble

They were certain of their own righteousness.  As they looked confidently up to heaven, they prayed in a loud and mighty voice, talking to God as if they had a right to stand at His feet.  'I am so thankful, Heavenly Father, that I am not like others who struggle with sins of all kinds.  I don't lie, cheat, steal, covet or kill.  I do what You ask me to do, tithing on a regular basis and never straying from your path.  I have reached a level of which many dream but never attain: I fast not once, but two times every week.  Thank you for making me so very good, Heavenly Father."

Meanwhile, in the back of the sanctuary stood a woman dressed in seductive clothing.  Many sneered at her, whispering to each other, "How dare she come here dressed like that."  She kept her eyes down, not daring to look up at the cross, feeling the weight of her sins.  As she crumpled to the ground in shame, her heart cried out to God.  "Help me, Father.  I know I don't deserve a thing, I've done so many bad things.  I need you, Jesus, please save me." (Luke 18:9-14)

Which of the two described above went home right with God?  The one who thought he already was good enough, or the one who acknowledged her depravity?  Jesus said the woman was the one who humbled herself before God and would thus be exalted by Him.

It reminds me of a college class in clay modeling that my daughters took as a part of their Illustration degree.  Before they could begin creating the form they had in their mind, they needed to get the clay to the consistency needed to make it malleable.  This involved wetting the clay and working it with their hands in order to warm it up.  If the clay became too dry, though, they had to let it sit in a bucket of water for a few days to re-hydrate it, otherwise it would be rigid, inflexible and unworkable.

This is like my heart.  If I already think I have things pretty well under control, my attitude is not compliant.  Before God can form me into the shape He has created me to take, I will need to become a malleable lump of clay, willing to let Him mold me.

In order to please God I will need to be humble enough to let Him transform my life for His glory.

Unpaid

When my daughters were in Middle School, I required them to perform community service as part of their homeschool curriculum.  They volunteered at the local library, shelving books, preparing new books for circulation, stamping cards and helping with special events.  Since they received no pay for this work, it helped them to learn that they didn't need a selfish motivation in order to do good things.  

Once they reached High School, then, it was not a surprise that they willingly helped run a free afterschool program from our home.  Their experience working without pay paved the way for a lifetime of willing service in God's kingdom.

There are many reasons I choose to do the things I do.  It could be that I feel guilty for some past or present sins and think I need to make up for that by doing extra good things in order to balance out the scale. There are times when I may feel bad about myself and helping others gives my feeling of well-being a boost.  Other times I could feel an obligation to volunteer in a ministry because that's what I know Christians are supposed to do.

These all seem like good reasons to my human, common-sense way of thinking.  Unfortunately, to God it looks like my heart is in the wrong place.  Whatever I do, my heart must lead out of a desire to obey God and please Him.  When I put myself into the equation, even to the tiniest degree, I'm tainting my motivation with selfish desires.

Instead, I want to make it my desire to store up for myself treasures in heaven by putting His kingdom first and placing my own desire for recognition, good feelings or brownie points to the side.  I guess Jesus said it best when He said, "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it.  It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. . .Just do it--quietly and unobtrusively.  That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out."  (Matthew 6:1,4 MSG)

When my attitude is all about glorying God and obeying His calling on my life, I won't have time to worry about how it makes me look.  Instead, I'll be focused on how it makes my Father feel.

In order to please God I will need to be willing to work for nothing in order to later gain everything.

I find it natural and easy to walk in pride, trying to gain recognition for my work and to only do what gives me something in return.  As a member of God's kingdom, however, there is another way.  His way calls me to allow His humbling hand to mold me, His righteous mouth to do the praising, and my reward to come from Him when in eternity I stand in His presence.  As my attitude become more like that of Christ, His ways will start to become my ways.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will place myself in my loving Father's hands for refining.

When do I desire to toot my own horn instead of letting God do it in His time and a place of His choosing?

How do I seek payment now for what I'm doing for God?

Narrow Entrance

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,

because many, I tell you,

will try to enter and will not be able to.

Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door,

you will stand outside knocking and pleading,

'Sir, open the door for us.'

But he will answer,

 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you,

and you taught in our streets,'

But he will reply,

'I don't know you or where you come from.

Away from me, all you evildoers!'"

Luke 13:24-27

We live in a time of individuality where the importance of family is at an all-time low.  In days gone by, however, where you came from meant everything.  Take, for instance, the kings of Judah and Israel.  Whenever a new king is introduced in the record, his blood line is revealed in detail.  "In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. . . His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah." (2 Kings 18:1,2b)

In the days before Google and background searches, one's family name was important in determining a person's character, values and upbringing.  If Grandfather so-and-so, for example, was known for swindling people out of their money, I would be wise to stay away from trading with anyone falling under his family name.  Knowing where someone came from was an important part of becoming familiar with a person.

Likewise, the more I know about someone's family, the closer I can say I am to that person.  When a young woman meets her boyfriend's parents, this is seen as a sign that the relationship is getting serious: The young couple is committing to finding out more about each other and thus deepening their relationship.  A stronger bond is formed when each party knows from where the other came.

Jesus made it clear that my relationship with Him is more important than what I do, how much I know or what I've heard.  I can be an expert in God's Word, hold many degrees in different facets of ministry and be from a family of believers, but if I don't know God myself, if it's only hearsay and not personal knowledge of His touch in my life, then I have not entered into God's kingdom.

Entering through the narrow gate is more than just converting to Christianity: It's about cultivating a personal relationship with a living God.

Devotion

My dog loves me.  That may seem presumptuous of me to state, but his actions give me the assurance of his devotion.  When I walk into a room, no matter how tired he is, he acknowledges me with a wag of the tail.  When I give him a command, he willingly obeys. (Well, that is unless there is a squirrel running across his line of vision; then he can't resist the chase.) If I offer a treat, he will keep his eyes glued on me, wanting nothing more than to please His master, even more than consuming the tasty morsel.  

These signs all point to the prospect that the pooch adores me.  But possibly the most convincing evidence of his loyalty to me is his desire to constantly be in my presence.  When I'm at home, he follows me around wherever I go.  He simply wants to spend time with me, even if it only means sleeping at my feet.

This is how I can display my affection for my Lord.  He is always there with me, at my side, but most of the time I deny His presence.  I go about my daily routine as if I were alone, when in fact, He is always there.  (Deuteronomy 31:6, Matthew 19:20, 1 Corinthians 3:16)

What if I were to begin treating God as if He was able to be known?  I could include Him in every activity beginning with getting out of bed in the morning and talking to Him about what I should wear until I come full circle and end the day back in the same place.  Each decision I make could be an exercise in intimacy as I defer to His wisdom and discernment.  Instead of walking by habit or tradition, I could begin following Him with every step I take.

As I spend time with Him in this way, He will begin to reveal things about Himself.  I'll see that He wants me to take pleasure in His creation as He points out all the colors He placed in today's sunset or the intricacy of the rose He created for my enjoyment.  He'll teach me that He prepares me for the purpose He has for me in the way that I witness His gentle hand guiding me through the process.  Soon I'll find out how much He loves me even though I keep messing up.  

Desiring to discover more and more about God pleases Him.  Many times, though, I get it backwards.  I think I need to do things for Him to prove my devotion to Him.  Oswald Chambers boldly declares that, "We slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him."

The narrow way can only be entered with a heart that is devoted to knowing and pleasing my Lord.

Obedience

He thought he was doing the right thing.  He knew that God required sacrifices to be made before any military campaign would be blessed by His hand.  Thousands of soldiers, too numerous to count along with 3,000 chariots and 6,000 charioteers assembled before the 3,000 chariots of Israel.  Surely God would deliver the vile Philistines into our hands, thought Saul.  We are His people and are doing His will.  I can't wait any longer for Samuel to arrive and offer burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.  My men are losing heart. . . I must act now. (1 Samuel 13:2-14)

And with that, Saul made the fatal decision to go against God's instructions given through Samuel (1 Samuel 10:8) and offer a sacrifice without the presence of a consecrated priest or prophet.  He did what he thought was right instead of trusting God with His plan.

It's easy to make a rash choice based on my own common sense, but God desires that I wait on His guidance and direction.  I can quickly make out a list of pros and cons based on scripture when faced with an important decision, but obeying God means I will wait for His lead and only move when He gives the go-ahead.  Things don't always go the way I think they will when I resolve to obey God wholeheartedly, but He is faithful to follow through and provide strong leadership.

Later, when Saul was caught again disobeying the Lord's strict instructions to let no human or animal live when He intended to use His people to enact justice on the Amelekites, Saul tried to cover up his defiance by claiming the animals were for sacrificial use.  Samuel said to him, "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?  To obey is better than sacrifice." (1 Samuel 15:22)

There are many ways I try to do things that seem right while completely disregarding His direct calling on my life.  While there is nothing wrong with teaching Sunday School, if I am doing it out of obligation instead of obedience, I am in the same boat as Saul.

When I sense a definite calling to the foreign mission field but instead sidestep with a commitment to a local ministry, all the time and effort I put into that organization means nothing to God.

There could be a time when God calls me to quit my job and move to another area of the country but I'm afraid because I don't have any money or even a job lined up.  Instead, I establish a mission to feed the homeless in my hometown.  Unfortunately, my disobedience caused me to miss out on the provisions He already had laid out for me and the blessing of walking in His will, if only I would have trusted Him.

There are many good things I can choose to do, but only that which God has ordained for me will matter to Him.

The narrow way can only be entered with a willingness to listen and obey the voice of my Good Shepherd.

Submission

I accepted Jesus as my Savior at a Billy Graham Crusade back in May of 1976.  It was then that I received forgiveness through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus and the promise of eternal life from a loving God.  

It wasn't until about 1993, though, that I made Jesus Lord of my life.  Until then, I knew I was saved by God from eternal damnation and I enjoyed the assurance of salvation, but I did not submit myself to Him.  Instead, I lived my life my way.  When I put myself under the headship of Christ, several things began to happen.  I started to see things differently, as if my point of view was altering.  Another change that occurred was that the things that used to be important to me began to fade into the background as Jesus took center stage.

As I continue to crucify my will so I can take on God's, He continues to transform my thinking and carry on the work He started so long ago.  I will never be sorry I made Jesus Lord of my life. 

There are, however, many adjustments to be made as I exchange my desires for His.  I can no longer do as I wish but am committed to deferring to His plan for my life.  It is not just my reputation that I am concerned with, but His Name that becomes my foremost consideration.  Acceptance of the circumstances in which He has placed me becomes my highest calling.  

When Jesus is my Lord, I am putting Him at the helm of my ship.  Sometimes, He takes me through stormy waters that threaten to overwhelm.  But as Oswald Chambers asks, "Can I face things as they actually are in the light of the reality of Jesus Christ, or do things as they are efface altogether my faith in Him, and put me into a panic?"

Surrendering to Jesus as my Lord means I will trust Him even when things seem to be going wrong.  Only He sees the big picture, and my reliance on Him despite how bad things look tells the story of my faith.

The narrow way can only be entered on my knees in submission to Jesus Christ.

Jesus told us that, "small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  Matthew 7:14)   If I want to be one of the few, I'll devote my heart to knowing and pleasing God, commit myself to obedience to His voice, and don't just make Jesus my Savior, but also Lord of my life.  When I do these things, I'll be able to gain access to the narrow entrance that most pass on by for other,more enticing doorways.  But like it's been said many times, good things come in small packages.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will devote myself to not just knowing about God, but knowing Him personally and intimately.

When do I forgo my relationship with Him in exchange for a religious commitment?

How am I placing more importance on God's Word than on God himself?

Found Faithful

"That servant who knows his master's will

and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.

But the one who does not know

and does things deserving punishment 

will be beaten with few blows.

From everyone who has been given much,

much will be demanded;

and from the one who has been entrusted with much,

much more will be asked."

Luke 12:47-48

I remember the day I finally graduated from college.  It had been a long road with several interruptions, including marriage and a child, but finally I had finished the degree I had worked on for so long.  I don't remember much from that day, but I do remember a few of the words given to us at our graduation ceremony.  "With this degree comes opportunity, but also responsibility."  

I had never thought of the duty that came along with the privilege of holding a higher education.  I knew things I didn't know a few years before.  Much knowledge had been passed on from professors who were well known in their field; information that they imparted with the hope that we, their students, would then use it to make a difference in the world, to improve our field of work or at least to do good.  They taught us and now it was our turn to use the knowledge conscientiously.  Or, as Uncle Ben warned his nephew Peter Parker in the movie Spiderman, "With great power comes great responsibility."

God holds us responsible for what we know and what we've been given.  Nothing truly belongs to me.  Instead, I've been entrusted to hold it for a time, but my Master will soon be back and He will take account of how I have managed His possessions.  If I act as if He won't be back for a long time, living my life for me, I will be counted as an unbeliever.  (v 45-46)

I don't want to live my life as one who has not been saved from the fire.  Instead, I want to be found faithful in what He has given to me.  Therefore, there are a few things for which I'm responsible.

Following His Teachings

My husband served as an active duty soldier for 24 years and spent a few years stationed at Ft Bragg, North Carolina.  While there, my husband once enlisted the help of two of his soldiers to house-sit for us while we were away on vacation.  I gave them explicit instructions regarding our three cats.  I wrote down detailed descriptions of each feline and introduced them to their charges.  They claimed to understand and seemed to take it seriously.

Much to my dismay, one of our cats was missing when we returned from our vacation.  It seems the young men mistakenly thought we only had two cats so when they let them outside, they only looked for two to come back in.  Middy was gone for six weeks before we finally received a call from our vet who told us that someone had found our sweet kitty.

Those two young men did not follow the directions I so painstakingly left for them.  I didn't want anything to happen to our belongings or pets while we were gone so I went to great lengths to educate them on the ways of our home.  Unfortunately, they did not pay close attention.

How similar this is to me and God!  He has left detailed instructions on how He wants me to live the life He's given to me while I'm here on earth.  He covered everything from my attitude to my possessions.  I can't say that I don't know what He wants; He's spelled it out pretty clearly.

The problem is that there are so many other things to get my attention, just as I'm sure those young soldiers were mostly focused on the fact that they got to live in a home and escape the barrack life for a week.  Consequently, their attention was not where it should be: They shirked their responsibilities.

In the same way, my focus is easily drawn away from what Jesus teaches.  He instructs me to turn the other cheek and pray for those who persecute me.  Instead, the world encourages me to stand up for myself and to not let anyone walk all over me.  Since my flesh is inclined to defend my rights, I easily forget what I've learned at my Savior's feet.

Jesus tells me to be humble in spirit and think of others before I think of me.  All around me, though, I'm bombarded with messages of survival of the fittest and looking out for #1.  "Only the strong survive," I'm told, and I easily buy into it, forsaking what Jesus taught me.

When I pay attention to what Jesus says, I find that He wants me to give and pray without thought of trying to impress man.  Unfortunately, I am surrounded by those who judge me according to what I do or don't do and I find it so tempting to want to gain their approval by my obedient tithing, praying practices or other godly pursuits.

To be found faithful upon Jesus' return, I will need to follow the teachings of Jesus above all other traditions or desires.

Listening and Responding

When my daughters were younger, I always knew when they would obey and when they had no intention of doing what I said.  If they responded appropriately, I knew they got the message and would follow through.  But, if they only said, "okay, Mom" in a distracted way, I knew their heart was not in it and soon I would find the chores undone, warranting disciplinary action.

Paying attention to what Jesus teaches me is only part of the process.  I also need to have a heart that is attuned to His voice and a willingness to obey.  Most of the battle occurs within my will.  Learning what He wants is not an issue: I enjoy reading God's Word and meditating on the truths found there.      

Following the teachings of Jesus carefully, however, involves more than just knowing His Word.  Jesus said, "If you love me, you will obey what I command."  (John 14:15)  Thankfully, my salvation does not rest on my ability to follow His teachings. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Rather, it is a test to see how seriously I take what He says.  His Word is easy to receive, but to let it change me means I have to let go of a lot of things I may hold dear. Things like my comfort, my fears, my doubts, my weaknesses, my desires, my ambitions. . .In other words, I need to let go of more of me to make more room for Him.

And that brings me to the other good news: I am not left alone to accomplish this duty.  Instead, God has left me His Spirit to empower me, to teach me and to convict me.  (John 14:26)  I don't need to depend on my weak, human flesh to do as He has taught me.  Instead, I can follow the Spirit's lead as He guides me from within:  But I must pay attention and respond.

To be found faithful upon Jesus' return I will need to heed the Spirit's guidance as He leads me in following the teachings of Christ.

Good Steward

In the 24 years that my husband and I have been married, we have lived in our share of military housing.  Even though it feels like my home wherever my family lives, it is always at the back of my mind that the house does not belong to us.  It was entrusted to us by the U.S. government with the understanding that we would treat it well, living up to the standards they have set.

As a follower of Christ, my life is not my own. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  I belong to Him, bought with His precious blood as He took my punishment when dying on the cross for my sins.  As such, it is my duty to treat all that is given to me with the utmost care.

God has entrusted me with gifts of His Spirit.  These could include teaching, preaching, serving, prophesying,  giving, encouraging, leadership, mercy, healing, or many others.  Gifts were given to me to build up the body of Christ.  Once I figure out what He's given me, fear, doubt or something else may inhibit me from using them to glorify God.

It could be I have a knack for teaching but a lack of confidence.  I've never been one to want to be the center of attention and have, in fact, shunned the spotlight all of my life. If God has equipped me to teach His Word, I need not fear my own weakness.  Instead, I can boldly step in front of the class and let Him use me to feed and edify His body.

Maybe I've known that I have been given the gift of encouragement but I tend to keep it to myself, mostly sharing it with family and friends.  In order for me to be found faithful with what God has given me, I must use it as often as God calls me to put it into practice, even if it doesn't seem to be my place.  It's important to remember that everyone needs encouragement, especially those in leadership positions. 

Perhaps I've learned of a gift God has given to me but I'm embarrassed to use it.  I may wonder if people will think I'm strange, archaic or too big for my britches.  Whatever the cause of my fear, I must remember that a gift is meant to be used and its purpose is to build up, enlarge and exhort the Body of Christ.  Using my gift can only bring glory to God and there's no shame in that!

To be found faithful upon Jesus' return, I will need to identify my gifts and use them in a way that glorifies God.

As a follower of Christ, I have been given much responsibility.  I am imparted with the directive to pay close attention to what Jesus teaches, to heed and obey these commandments as empowered and led by His Spirit, and to strive for good stewardship of the gifts and other blessings He has given to me.  In this way, I hope to be found ready upon my Masters return,and to hear the words I long to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can be found faithful with what God has entrusted me.

How do I squander His gifts, using them only as I feel comfortable or letting them lie dormant?

Which of the teachings of Jesus do I know, but fail to put it into practice?         

My Father's Kingdom

"Do not be afraid, little flock,

for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor.

Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out,

a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted,

where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:32-34

The little lamb follows her shepherd, taking comfort when he uses his staff to gently guide her along the path.  Suddenly she comes to a fork in the road and becomes confused, wondering which way she should choose.  One way looks promising, wide and smooth with lanterns lighting the way.  The other route is rocky with a tight entryway and nary a foothold as it takes travelers along the edge of a harrowing cliff.  She looks to her leader and his smile brings her comfort.  He enters the narrow path and she follows willingly.  (John 10:14, Matthew 7:13-14)

Following Jesus as my Good Shepherd means He will lead me on paths of righteousness for His namesake. (Psalm 23) To those around me, my choices seem foolish and risky, but to me there is no other choice if I want to walk at the side of my Lord.  I can take heart that He has given me the kingdom, if only I'd be willing to enter it.

Let Father Provide

My family is in the middle of a crisis of faith.  You see, God has called my husband to step back from his college studies and focus completely on his business.  This will mean less income for a time because we will no longer receive the educational support he earned during his 24-year Army career from the Veterans Administration.  God has also called us to take a leap of faith and pay for our daughter's college expenses so she won't rack up any student loans.  In a nutshell, we have less income but more expenses.

We could easily solve this dilemma with common sense and worldly wisdom.  My husband could let his business go since its not bringing in much income and get a job working on the nearby military installation where he would earn a regular, steady paycheck.  I could also try to get a job to bring in some extra earnings.  If we did this, our bills would be paid and life would be pretty easy.  Unfortunately, it also means our hearts would be in turmoil as we thought of all the youth my husband would no longer be working with and encouraging as a part of fulfilling the mission of his business.  I would no longer work with the children in our neighborhood, disciple women or write.  In a nutshell, we would trade our calling for going after what we need.

Jesus said His sheep should not behave as the pagans do who have no Father. (Matthew 6:31-33) They spend their time working to provide for necessities because if they don't do it, who will?  I, on the other hand, have a heavenly Father through faith in Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13) who knows what I need better than I do.  I can trust Him to provide and no longer have to concern myself with the necessities of life.

Instead, I can focus my time and energy on doing what God has called me to do.  This frees my mind up to think about excellent and praiseworthy things instead of worrying about my circumstances. (Philippians 4:8)  It also gives me the time to learn more about the God who called me and of His ways instead of coming up with a plan to provide for myself.  In this way, God is my leader and I simply follow.

While I don't know exactly how God will provide for our expenses this month, He is giving us an inkling into what He is doing in our lives.  He is opening doors and we are confident He will supply our needs at just the right time.

In the kingdom my Father has provided I need not worry about how I'll get by, but instead purely trust Him to make available to me whatever I require to live.

Sell Possessions

Stacks of newspapers lined the hallways of her home.  Every available space was filled with stuff.  Clothing, knick-knacks, appliances, and all manner of possessions were crammed into the overcrowded house.  There was nowhere to sit, or even to stand comfortably.  This was not a home, it was a storage space.  

While I may not go to the extreme lengths as someone who hoards, I do tend to want to save things for future use.  My friend always tells me that when I buy a new piece of clothing, I should always give one of my old garments away so that I never have too much.  This goes against my naturally tendency to make sure I have enough.  For instance, if I find a great buy on something I use often in cooking, I want to buy it and store it for future use, thankful that I won't have to buy that certain item for the next few months.  

While its not bad to plan for the future, this way of thinking tends to be a tad self-centered.  God has given me a kingdom where He is the King and I am His daughter.  I need not worry about my own welfare but can instead pay attention to what breaks His heart.  Is there someone who is suffering and could use that food I purchased on sale?  Maybe those towels that are taking up space in my closet would be of better use hanging in the bathroom of the single mom who lost everything in a fire.  It could be that the man who rides the bus to work everyday and struggles to take care of his family could use our second car more than my family could.

As I follow my King, He will show me how to use the stuff He has provided for His glory.  He will also show me how to give away some of my emotional baggage.  I tend to lug around fears, doubts, the desire to control and many other excess burdens that hamper my ability to trust God.  Giving away these possession makes room for more of His Spirit to inhabit my being, resulting in His Fruit being more evident in my life.  (Galatians 5:22-23)

In the kingdom my Father has provided, I don't need to hold onto any physical or emotional possession, but can let them go in order to rely solely on Him.

Make Eternal Investments

We have seen it happen over and over again:  A man puts his all into becoming successful.  He reaches the pinnacle, earning all the trappings of a victorious life and it seems he has it all.  Then, one day he shockingly takes his own life in despair, unable to live any longer with the emptiness within.  To the astonishment of all those around him, the pain within himself was more than he could handle.  The life he had worked so hard to attain was not the life that satisfied his heart.

There is no doubt about it, I will reap what I sow.  (Galatians 6:7-8)  If I spend my time going after things I think will satisfy me, my life will end in death and destruction.  If, however, I dedicate my life to pleasing God and following Him step by step, I will be rewarded with an abundant life for all of eternity.  The two frames of mind cannot coexist in one philosophy.  Either I live for me, or I live for Christ: I can't have it both ways.

Living for Christ leads to life eternal.  When I trust in Jesus as my Savior, His blood covers all my sin making me appear holy and blameless before a Holy God.  As I commit my life to Him, making Him to be the Lord of my life, my own desires and wants begin to fade away.  Over time, there is less of me and more of Him.  I begin to desire to build up more of the treasures I will find in heaven: Things that are important to God like mercy, grace and love.  Gone are my desires to be exalted and I find myself wanting only my Father's rights to prevail.

Making an eternal investment also means I stop living my life based on my feelings and pay more attention to God's leading.  Every once in a while I'll get to see the views from the mountain tops where everything seems to exist as it should be and it all makes sense.  In an instant, I'm so close to God I can practically touch Him.  I feel ecstatic; as if I could do anything.  But, as Oswald Chambers said, we can't live on the mountaintop.  Instead, he said, "We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle."

I can't live my life based on how I feel.  I have to take on the power to descend to the wilderness and rough it out for His purposes.  I must trust that He has a plan, especially when I feel  uninspired, stressed out or in the depths of despair.  God is still God, despite my circumstances, and when I focus on the investments I am making that will last for all eternity, I'll have the strength to go on.

In the kingdom my Father provided my desires or feelings do not determine my path but I instead sow seeds that will bring forth heavenly fruit.

There is so much to fear in this world, but when I keep my eyes on the Good Shepherd, He will lead me down the path toward life.  As I travel through His kingdom I learn that my Father provides all my needs if I will only let Him, I can travel light and spend my time doing kingdom work, and I can invest in eternal treasures that will bring glory to God.  My Father has already given me this kingdom.  When I enter in, I find my heart is focused wholly on Him and discover that it's a great place to dwell!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop going after my needs and simply do as God is calling me to do, no matter how risky it seems.

When do I use my common sense to make decisions instead of looking to my Shepherd for guidance?

How am I afraid to follow the narrow path because it seems so dangerous?