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Matthew 16 – What does “cross bearing mean” it means bearing ones cross and death to self. Facing one direction and not being able to turn around. A man on a cross cannot turn around and look at what is behind him.
The man going to the cross does not say “Peter, I’ll see you to go fishing next Tuesday.” There are no future plans when someone is going to the cross.
We pursue what we want most by giving up something else.
Most of us haven’t faced death for the sake of our relationship of Jesus, but we do need to live for him.
This is a challenge for every Christian, this pull of mediocrity. Sometimes we live our lives in the hope that God is going to grade on a curve.
Consecration, commitment must be total and complete.
Philippians 3:12-13 – Christ Jesus has made me His own, because of this I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus. Paul says that he still has a long ways to go, he sees that there is plenty of room for him to grow.
Are you satisfied with where you are this morning? Do you feel like you don’t need to move very much in your relationship and walk with Christ?
Our tendency is to hold something back, we feel as if giving 70 or 80 percent is enough. God expects 100% from us, no more and no less.
Matthew 11 – God knows what we are capable of. He knows what our “max” is. Jesus says, come to me and find rest. We are not enough, but Jesus is enough.
Luke 19:11-26 – This parable is a little different from the parable of the talents. The king had expectations of his servants, it wasn’t out of the blue.
A lot of times the “words” we say don’t line up with the “commitment” we live out. We are all given something to be faithful in. At the very least we are all given one life. The other thing that is sure is that Christ is coming back, even if it seems like his return is delayed.
God is not ok with mediocrity and lukewarm ness. The Laodiceans had a lot of things, but one thing they lacked was a commitment to Christ.
What we spend our time on is most likely what we are going to get our results in. The world places a high value on money and prestige but the Bible makes it clear that these things are going to wither away like grass.
Mark 10 – Jesus told his disciples that there is no one who has left everything for the sake of the Gospel that won’t receive a reward 100x (more).
There are a lot of things that we need to do… that have to be done, but we need to make sure that we aren’t letting even the important things take the place of the things that are vital in our relationships with Christ.
What are you committed to? Is it worthwhile? How can you more fully commit yourself to Christ, to your family, to your church?