The Focus for Greatness

Wednesday 3rd May 2023

 

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

 

There are many of us who would love to live our lives fully for God, but we have been held back by what the Bible calls ‘weights’. You see, when the devil sees he cannot get you to backslide easily, he starts by trying his best to take away the fire you once had for God, by showing you that it’s alright to do that thing that he knows you love doing, more and more.

 

The Bible says, ‘And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do ALL in the Name of the Lord Jesus (Col 3:17). Examine yourself. Are you doing ALL you do in the Name of the Lord Jesus? Or are you doing some because of Him, some because of what people would say, and some because of yourself?

 

In 1 Cor 6:12 Paul said “Everything is permissible for me”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”–but I will not be MASTERED by ANYTHING.

 

Then he gave two examples:

 

“Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”–but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 1Co 6:13 (NIV)

 

Some Christians have let themselves be distracted from their love for God by their love for food. But this is not the only thing. Some have been overcome and distracted from their love for Christ by a relationship, by their love for pleasing others, social functions, worldly music, friends, the way of the world, etc.

 

Anything that is not taking you forward spiritually, career-wise, or in a clear way that God is showing you is probably bringing you down. Be extremely careful about it.

 

Jesus said in Revelation 2:2-4 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. ‘BUT I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU, THAT YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE.

 

Wow. What a great commendation! But stained by one blot. A serious one. Where is the love you had for Me and the things of God at first? Where is the passion with which you spent time with Me, and read and did My Word? Wow…

 

Can we examine ourselves today? Is our first love still there? Would we rather talk with friends, listen to music, watch TV or browse, try to make more money, or do something else rather than spend time with God? Do you still have the love you first started out with, or can Jesus say this exact same thing about you today…?

 

Let us return to, or rather, GROW in, our first love for Christ. Let us do and improve on those things we used to do for Him.

 

The Lord is making us always stand in the center of His will, in Jesus’ Name.

 

CONFESSION

I am committed to the Lord and to His will for my life. I am strong and focused on His destiny and plan for my life. I am seeing myself the way He sees me, and I am living His dream and vision for me. I am obedient to His will, His Spirit, His plan, and His Word to me, and I am excelling in all I do, in Jesus Name, Amen.

 

MORE LIGHT (MEDITATE ON, AND PRAY WITH THESE)

Re 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Jer 2:2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.

2 Cor 5:13-16 For whether we be beside ourselves, [it is] to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

 

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