Ending Our Devotion To The Natural Life

My Utmost For His Highest

“When he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.” —Luke 18:23

“He had no doubt about what Jesus had said or what it meant, and it produced in him a sorrow with no words with which to respond. Have you ever been there? Has God’s Word ever come to you, pointing out an area of your life, requiring you to yield it to Him? Maybe He has pointed out certain personal qualities, desires, and interests, or possibly relationships of your heart and mind. If so, then you have often been speechless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, and He will not plead with you. But every time He meets you at the place where He has pointed, He will simply repeat His words, saying, “If you really mean what you say, these are the conditions.” […]  rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought— in the realm of your will before God. […] What Jesus says is difficult— it is only easy when it is heard by those who have His nature in them. […]  Discouragement is disillusioned self-love, and self-love may be love for my devotion to Jesus— not love for Jesus Himself.” CHAMBERS

(Matthew 16:24-25) “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.””

The Bible addresses the issues of life. It tells us about the faithful and the unfaithful.  It tells us about temptations, failures and victories.  It warns us and encourages us.  Do you remember Lot’s wife?  She left Sodom with Lot, physically, but her heart, her devotion remained.  Like her, we say we will follow Jesus away from destruction, but our hearts are not fully devoted.  Like the young man in Luke 18.  In Romans 12:1-2, Paul said that we should be like living sacrifices.  Not conformed to the world but transformed.  Why do you suppose that was said to the Romans? Because they were having a problem with being devoted to the natural life and not to the spiritual life.  Following Jesus is a daily .. even a moment by moment …decision.  Make this song your prayer … ELGIN

“Take Me Back” Andrae Crouch

“Take me back, take me back dear Lord, To the place where I first received you.

Take me back, take me back dear Lord where I, First believed.

I feel that I'm so far from you Lord, But still I hear you calling me

Those simple things that I once knew, The memories are drawing me.

I must confess, Lord I've been blessed, But yet my soul's not satisfied.

Renew my faith, restore my joy, And dry my weeping eyes.

I tried so hard, To make it all alone. I need your help Just to make it home.”

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)