Oswald Chambers asks,
“Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Himself?”

The rich, young ruler of Luke 18 came asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and Jesus gave him the answer I think he was expecting. “You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”  The young ruler may have thought to himself that Jesus would be pleased and tell him he had passed the test. Indeed, he had done those things, but he was unprepared for the second part of the response. “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The ruler walked away sad. As it turned out, his devotion was to his idea of what Jesus wanted. Jesus surprised him by demanding something he did not anticipate—a love that would make him lay down everything he held dear and follow a wandering rabbi to unknown places living a life he couldn’t reconcile with what he had always believed. The ruler was a man bent on righteousness and service. He lived carefully.

David, on the other hand, lived – with a heart of passion toward God. Intermingled with his greatness, there is a list of moral failings. When the prophet Nathan confronted him after his adultery with Bathsheba, David’s immediate response was, “I have sinned against the Lord.” He then confessed his guilt, pleaded for forgiveness, cleansing and restoration. Perhaps it was David’s willingness to always stand stripped before the Lord that made him the man after God’s heart. His nearly naked dance into Jerusalem while the house of Israel brought the ark back into the city may be the metaphor that best depicts David’s joyous unselfconscious abandonment to God.

Somehow, I don’t think the rich young ruler would have been caught doing such a thing. After all, he was more devoted to what he thought Jesus wanted than he was to Jesus.

This is really the crux of the matter for us. Do we merely believe in Jesus and serve Him carefully or do we love Him and follow Him, even if it means living with the contempt of others – even if it makes life untidy, even if it departs from what we always thought Jesus wanted?

It seems to me that when we love God, we please Him most. The ruler came minus sins (so he thought), but also minus love and was sent away sad. David came dancing and loving and yes, sinning. Expressing the most fervent contrition, David deplored his own sin, but he neither walked self-consciously through life nor stopped running toward God with a passion. It was David’s passion that pleased God and moved Him in love to call this flawed king a man after His own heart.                                           (LISA DYE)

In his song, Identity, Lecrae Moore raps, “I’m not the shoes I wear. I’m not the clothes I buy. I’m not the house I live in. I’m not the cars I drive. I’m not the job I work. You can’t define my worth by nothing on God’s green earth. My identity is found in Christ, is found in Christ.” You may or may not appreciate Christian rap, but you can’t deny the biblical truth found in this song.

The world tries to sell us something different. “Come on,” the voices say, “You know you feel a heightened sense of self-worth when you slide onto the leather seats and behind the wheel of this fantastic driving machine.” Even believers say, “Why, yes; yes, I do.” But as believers, our identity cannot be found in clothes, houses, cars, or jobs. Our identity must be found in Christ alone. Because of Christ, I have been accepted as a child of the living God.

My identity is in Christ. Nothing can change that. It never goes out of style. It never rusts or decays. It never gets old or breaks down. I am a child of God and will forever be!

Father, please don’t let me believe the lies of the world that possessions, position, and appearance are the things that provide a sense of worth. Don’t let my identity be found in my ministry or my calling. Remind me often that I am Your child…and will be Your child forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.     (RON MOORE)

The Centurion in the story doesn’t see in Jesus some nice guy who’s a good teacher with some magical powers. He sees a King with authority. But he recognizes something else. Not only does he know that Jesus has authority and power over all things, but he also recognizes that he doesn’t. He recognizes that he needs Jesus. He needs Jesus to be able to face the things in life that come his way. Because Jesus is the only one with authority over everything.

You see, it doesn’t matter how much authority or power we THINK we have, or how much we THINK we are in control of things. The reality is that Jesus is the only One with supreme authority over all things.

The Centurion doesn’t just say that he knows Jesus has the authority to heal. He also says, by coming to Jesus, “Jesus, I DON’T have control. I DON’T have authority. I can order my soldiers around, but I have no control over this sickness. But you do. I am NOT in control. I have NO authority. I have NO power. But YOU DO!

That’s REAL faith. Not just placing our confidence, our trust, our dependence, our belief in Jesus. But also NOT depending on ourselves.

What part of your life comes under Jesus’ authority? Is your marriage under his authority? Are your morals under his authority? Your finances, your work, your time, your future plans? Following Jesus isn’t about being from a Christian family. Following Jesus isn’t about going to church. Following Jesus isn’t about saying the right creeds, or giving money, or how much time you spend praying or reading the Bible. Following Jesus isn’t about being religious or spiritual or devout or pious. It’s not about knowing more or doing more.

It’s about REAL faith in Jesus. Not in ourselves. It’s about recognising Jesus’ authority over ALL of our life. You might be comfortably walking along in life at the moment, ticking all the right boxes, following the right path, doing  all the right things, nothing’s out of control, finances are good, relationships are OK. You’re getting by following the teachings of Jesus. Reading your Bible. Praying. Getting to Church. But are you putting things in your life under Jesus’ authority?

Are you just following? Or are you faithful? Is your life under his authority?   (REV BRUCE STANLEY)

Jesus prayed for others. In John 17:9 we read, “I[Jesus] pray for them. I am not praying for the world,        but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours.”This underscores the need for intercessory prayer.

Jesus prayed with others. Luke 9:28 reads, “[Jesus] took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray.” Jesus prayed alone, but He also knew the value of praying with others.

Jesus prayed alone. Luke 5:16 reads, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” As much as Jesus understood the value of praying with and for others, He also understood the need to pray alone. It’s important for us to “be still” before God, but the only way to do this, especially in our hectic culture, is to do so alone with God.

Jesus could pray as a sprinter or a marathon runner. The Lord’s Prayer is short enough to be easily memorized and serve as an example of a sprint rather than a marathon prayer. But Jesus also knew how to dedicate long periods of time to prayer. As we read in Luke 6:12, Jesus “spent the night praying to God.” We, too, need to be able to offer short prayers, as well dedicate long periods of our lives to prayer.

Jesus prayed regularly. Luke 5:16: “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” The word “often” is not hidden, but makes it obvious that Jesus prayed regularly. Throughout the Gospels whenever we read of Jesus and prayer, it comes up regularly and naturally. It was simply a part of His worldview, integrated into every aspect of Christ’s life. Can we say the same about prayer in our life?

The prayers of Jesus were heartfelt. Jesus did not pray in a cold, distant manner, but in heartfelt supplication, demonstrating empathy and a genuine love for God.

Jesus prayed based on His knowledge of God and His truths. The prayers of Jesus were based on God’s revealed truths and, as such, were in line with a solid biblical worldview. Proper prayer requires us to have a truthful understanding of God and what He has revealed to us through His Word.

Jesus taught persistence in prayer. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1). The parable Jesus shared is not meant to depict a pestering disciple who finally bugs God enough that He chooses to respond, but about persistence in prayer and waiting on God and His timing.

Jesus knew that not all his prayers would be answered as expected. This is a difficult prayer lesson to learn, but the fact of the matter is that not all our prayers are answered in ways we expect. Even Jesus knew this hard lesson as he cried out to God the Father from Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44). Three times Jesus prayed for God to allow an easier path, but Jesus knew, “Yet not as I will, but as You will” (26:39).    (ROBERT VERLARDE)

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.”  (Proverbs 29:25)
Fear of people can hamper everything we try to do.
But the fear of God – respect, reverence and trust – is liberating in every way!
So instead of fearing people, trust God, who can turn the harm intended by people, into good for us, who trust God!

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good….”  (Genesis 50: 20)
As one of my sons often says -‘It’s all good, Mum!”
The experiences in Joseph’s life taught him that God brings good from evil for those who trust Him.
So do we trust God enough to wait patiently for Him to bring good out of bad situations?
We can trust Him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about His intended results.

“And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you…”  (Jeremiah 1: 8 )
Another translation says: “Don’t be afraid of man’s faces….”
God promised to be with Jeremiah and He has promised to be with us, too.
He takes care of us but He does not keep trouble from coming our way.
God does not insulate us from various troubles.
God does not keep us from encountering life’s storms, but He will see us through the storms every time.
In fact, did you know & remember that God walks through these storms with us and rescues us?
Often we struggle with new challenges because we lack self-confidence, feel we have inadequate ability, training or experience.
But God has promised to be with us always.
We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to stop us from obeying God.
He is ALWAYS with us.
When God gives us a job, He will provide all we need to do it.

Do not fear!
Getting the message yet?
Why waste energy on things that may never come to pass?
Our God is good, great and always faithful so do not fear!