How do I apply the “everything” concept?

Genesis 12 - Abram was not asked to give up everything, but to “leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.” Abram took “all the possessions they had accumulated“ (v. 4) and went. Later (v. 20), following time spent in Egypt, he again went with “everything he had“.

In the New Testament, the Lord’s formula changed: “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). The widow actualized this, “but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Lk 21:4), as did Peter, James & John “so they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11) and Levi “and Levi got up, left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:28).

How do I apply the “everything” concept?

How do I apply: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me“ (Luke 9:23)?

How do I apply: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds“ John 12:24?

---Patrick

Hurricane or mosquitos --

When the normal problems of life arise -- whether they be hurricane-like or mosquito-like -- this is our chance to shun self-pity, and turn to the One who says "Come to Me".

We often crouch down at the door of pain, forgetting that His trek for us plans for, provides and even encourages DELAY and SUFFERING (as part of His script). But there, huddled down, is a best new step for renewed fellowship with the Almighty. He says "Return to Me. And I will return to you" (Zech 1). He says "Draw near to me. And I will draw near to you." And we can say to Him "Arise, O Lord. Deliver me, O my God" (Ps 3) ...deliver me into fellowship with you, regardless of door mat I find myself on.

--Patrick

Might the Holy One say to us, "Relax in My peaceful presence. Do not bring performance pressures into our sacred space of communion" *

Sweet - like an intimate relationship with one's spouse - is time with the Lord.

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live…. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods." (Ps 63:1f)

(*From a devotional book.)

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday." Isaiah 58:10

It used to be easy

Simplicity.

In Honduras, it was a life with less worries & less material distractions. Though we were often assaulted from many sides by arrows from the evil one and the normal pressures of ministry in cross-cultural settings, life none-the-less was more simplified.





Jesus said, "The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature."





Here in North America, I find myself awoken early with worries. And while not rich, per se, I am distracted by our surroundings.





And my Quiet Times have now gone from a long soft and slow two hours to a fraction of that.





I wonder if it is not always the big sins of life that are be-settling, but the subtle worries and riches and sin-less pleasures that break this cedar of Lebanon?

--Patrick

Does God...

Does the Lord ever let go of our hand?

No.

"He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village." Luke 8:23.

And He has not let go.

...reaches to the heavens...

Your love, O LORD,
reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.
Psalms 36:5