The terms

10/2/2017

In studying this morning and preparing for the week ahead i was reading Chapter 8 of not a fan. Kyle Idleman said something on the first page of chapter 8 that really jumped out at me, he said, "It's not that fans don't want a relationship with Jesus; it's that they want the relationship on their terms,"

Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

We don't tend to spend as much time with this verse as we need. I believe there is a simple reason for the neglect, it requires much from us. When we do speak of it, we have a tendency to focus on the later part of the scripture, take up your cross. That is definitely important; however, I believe that many try to do just that, take up their cross while bypassing the first part, "if anyone desires to come after Me." Listen, do you desire Jesus? Many will answer yes and I believe you do desire Jesus, but that is not all that the scripture declares. There is more to this scripture, you have to do more than just desire Jesus, you have to desire to come after Jesus. There are many "want to" people in the world. They want a great many things, but they don't want to do what is necessary to obtain and receive those things. Jesus says you have to desire to come after Him. You have to be willing to go after Jesus. What does that mean to you? The reality of it is different for for different people, but the foundation of it is simple, you have to deny yourself and get to moving. When I first met Pretty Sheree at CVCC I had a desire to go after her, and I did. She had my mind's attention and my heart's affection and still does. My actions reflected my desires. Hanging out with the guys was not as important. English 101,102,103, 211, 212, (thats right I made sure my schedule matched her schedule) became the most important classes CVCC ever offered. One afternoon we sat in the parking lot at Rainbow foods on 431 and just talked, for about 4 hours. You see my actions aligned with my desires. It wasn't hard for me to do those things, it was easy. Why? Because I had a desire to go after Pretty Sheree. The same is true of your relationship with Jesus Christ. You first must have a desire to follow Jesus. Check this out, if you are drawn to Jesus in any way, then, you can know that He has initiated your call to salvation or your call to obedience. John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. So if you are drawn to Jesus, you can know that the Father is drawing you into this relationship. Now once you recognize, acknowledge and begin the process of seeking the Lord Jesus then the road to intimacy and a relationship with Him begins. How does it begin? It begins by you denying yourself. You may think you don't have time to pray, deny yourself, and hit your knees, He will meet you there. You may think you would rather go to here there or everywhere Sunday morning, but deny yourself and hit the church house, He will meet you there. You may think you are to tired and can't study today, deny yourself, take out your Bible and read His love letter to you. After you have read, take out a pen and paper and study. Excuses are useless with Jesus and must leave your mindset. Pick up the pen, open the book, and Jesus will meet you there. These meetings lead to intimacy and a relationship that will drive every aspect of your life. If you are void of this communion with Jesus, then you must take action steps that involve you denying yourself and following Him. Pray for a desire to follow Jesus Christ with all of your heart. Pray for His drawing in every facet of your life. If your terms for your relationship with Christ is a quick prayer to start the day, a little church on Wednesday (fanatic), a little more church on Sunday (obligated), prayer over every meal, even your snacks (on fire), then your level of intimacy with Jesus Christ is about as serious as Judas. Seriously, he attended all the prayer meeting, was in class every time it was held. He served in the kingdom, however, there was no denying of himself. Everything He did was centered around HIS OWN DESIRES. Judas served Jesus on his own terms not the terms set forth by Jesus; therefore, there was no service at all, no commitment and no RELATIONSHIP!

Rak Chazak
david wilson

5 Comments

Dallas

10/2/2017 07:30:28 pm

I’m reminded of the rich young ruler here. He wanted so desperately to be in the kingdom but he wanted it his way, like Burger King. But we are just like him. Replace riches with TV shows, or hunting, or work, anything we want to hold equal or above our relationship.
He told Peter to drop the net and follow him. Basically drop everything relevant to supporting your family and their physical needs and follow Jesus. When that relationship becomes your drive for each day, then you are on his terms. All else will follow after. Waking up each morning with you mind staying on Jesus ( love this song ). Nothing else can be equal to Him. Nothing else can share top spot with him. “Jesus + Nothing = Everything!” Thank You Mitchell Dean! Make him you top priority in your daily walk!

Leslie

10/2/2017 09:54:19 pm

Martha and Mary come to my mind tonight.
You read in Luke 10:38-42 that Martha is upset with her sister Mary because she feels like Mary has left her to do everything in the kitchen. Jesus says something I needed to hear Martha Martha you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed and Mary had chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. We must remember yes we need to be in His Word yes We need to spread the message BUT we must also remember that we have to be like Mary and know what’s important and that’s to sit at the feet of Jesus and let Him speak to us. I want to be a Mary to lay it all down and just sit at His feet to remember what’s important and it’s not doing so much that I miss Him speaking to me.

Dana Cox

10/2/2017 10:12:10 pm

I needed this REAL, strong reality check. Aside from our world falling apart around us, our Savior waits for us to come falling to Him.

Barak

10/4/2017 12:16:22 pm

I can remember saying, "I really wished I played the piano," to which my mama would say, "You know, my daddy always says, you don't really wish it--or you would do it." I hear those words every time I wish I was able to run a far distance, speak another language, or be a great teacher. If I really wanted these things, I'd make it happen. When I read your metaphor of chasing after Mrs. Sheree, I immediately thought about my granddaddy's famous phrase. This is so true with Jesus. If I truly desired an in-depth relationship with Jesus, I'd make time for His word. I'd ignore all of the other things pulling on me, and strive toward Jesus--forsaking all others.

Rebekah

10/4/2017 01:33:46 pm

Being in the Word was something that I found to be extremely difficult in the beginning. I can't remember what it was that changed my thoughts about the Word (I could take a few guesses), but in the last month, the Word has been literal breath in my lungs. Jesus has been so real and personal and has moved through the Word and in my studies in the most real way. When I think about the Word, it reminds me of a statement that you made about if the Word was taken from us, would we have anything to lean on, would we know any of it. I believe that the Word being taken from our hands is a very real possibility, but when it's in my heart, you can't take it away!

The terms

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