Rainy days and Mondays never get me down. And that's what we had early this week together ..a rainy Monday. How 'bout you? It's been raining a lot here in Dallas lately. The plants, lakes and trees really need it too--they've been very thirsty. How has it been there where you live? What's the weather like there? What's your favorite thing to do or see in the area where you live ..when you get time off with your friends there? Just curious. Anyways, Liney and I trust that you are doing well spiritually. How can we pray for you? Please do feel free to let us know how we can better add practical value to your life, or challenge you, or simply minister to you with this blog etc. Please do pray that we can help more people as well. Thanks! Oh.. about that photo I attached above. No, Liney and I didn't start drinking to escape troubles or anything, but I simply scratched out a quick devo this morning at home (see below) that deals in part with people who are struggling under cruel habits and addictions that will sooner or later make them lose out and we do not want anyone to lose anything good that God plans to bless them with, or already has blessed them with.
Ready To Lose It All?
I hate loss… don't you? It's so needless and obviously some things hurt to lose more than other things.. they have far more value than other toys and junk that are easy to replace.
A week or so ago after returning from California, my wife lost her diamond wedding ring right down the bathroom sink accidentally. She cried real tears and I just felt sick for her.. and for me. How would I be able to save up enough to replace that temporal thing that had sentimental value to her? We did what we could to recover it, but no use.
It was totally gone ..we thought ..until a week later when she pulled it out of the dryer with some clean laundry. Don't ask me how (We both remember praying about the matter though).
Are you currently on the verge of losing something valuable and have you even prayed about whether God wants you to lose it? Sure some destructive relationships need to be cut off at different times, but are you about to lose your spouse due to their sin or yours? Are you willing to fight spiritually to keep this from happening? Now you know that God hates divorce but allows this in certain instances, but please don't under-value your spouse! There can be grounds for forgiveness there due to what Jesus already accomplished.
Maybe you are about to lose a job, some commissions, or a car that you've had trouble paying on ..and then subsequently your good credit.
Perhaps you are clinging to your own life of pleasure or you idol (that which you have put number one ahead of everything else).
He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. —Jesus, John 12:25-26, nkjv
What are you so tightly holding on to today? Jesus Christ basically encouraged His followers not to cling to their own life, to their own stuff, to their own way, to their own agenda, to their own ingenuity, plans or lifestyle, but He was promising life everlasting to anyone who would follow Him completely.
I'm talking about life during life here and then some ..a lot more, with no end.
In the context of those verses, Jesus was talking about dying so that life could come forth and help others. Man, He was and is our greatest Example of this type of thing.. when He chose to do the Father's will instead of His own even to the point of dying on a cross for our sins. And to prove the validity of those words He said, He is alive today!
Yes, Jesus said, "where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." Have you been looking for acknowledgement, approval, respect and honor in all the wrong places? Jesus indeed wants the closeness with you and to meet all your needs as He leads you, not visa versa.
He desires to be your Lord and Savior… not just Savior alone as you insist upon living as a bullheaded carnal Christian that refuses to trust. May I ask.. is He either to you? You might have thought that you've been a real Christian for a long time now, but is there evidence to back this up? Sure, maybe you've served in a church, sung in a choir, given to some charity, but all that can be worthless-chaff and doesn't save anybody.
Maybe many of your friends think you are a real Christian too. Will it all stand up under the fierce light of the soon coming Judgment Seat of Christ?
Is there fruit from a biblically born again experience in Christ? I know those terms have been over used and misused, but Christ was the One who said you must be born again (see John 3:3). Do you even desire the things that a real Christian desires? Going to church regularly, prayer meetings, evangelism, fellowship with growing believers, meditating and memorizing Scripture, worship, talking and listening to the Lord while all alone and all through the day, intercession for others in need? Do you have your priorities in the proper order today?
Jesus commanded, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). And a literal rendering of that in the original language means, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!"
