Keep Focused

Luke 22: ³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

⁴⁵ When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ⁴⁶ ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’

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Walking around in life, I wandered into some doors that seemed to be wide open. The temptations were amazing and once I found one, I couldn’t get my mind off of whatever new thing I wandered into.

• Many times I have been tempted to fall into sin.
• Many times I have wandered off the path and into temptation.
• Many times I have lost my focus only to wind up in sin.

JESUS faces being blamed for every sin, every human could ever commit. HIS humanity reaches out to pray to the FATHER, begging HIM to think of another way, but if JESUS had to be the way, “let YOUR will be done.” JESUS then told HIS sleeping disciples to pray that they will not fall into temptation.

• GOD wants me to practice not succumbing to sin.
• GOD wants me to pray for daily temptation removal because I would more than likely fall into the sin HE wants me to stay away from.
• GOD wants me to recognize that HE was tempted in every way and understands my predisposal towards sin.

Enormous grace is a gift  GOD has given me. HE sees the sins I easily fall into and lifts me out of each hole. While HE never gets tired of rescuing me, HE still desires that I not fall into the holes in the first place.

HE is excited to cleanse me of all unrighteousness, daily. HE gets more excited when I stay focused at HIS mighty power. GOD wants me to stay focused on HIM so that I will not get weary.

• Are you so focused on your problems that you have taken your eyes off of GOD?
• Do you feel sorry for yourself?
• Will you stop being weary and get filled up with GOD’s grace so you can stay on HIS path HE has for you?

Unfair Trade

Luke 22: Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, ² and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. ³ Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. ⁴ And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. ⁵ They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ⁶ He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

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“Are you with us?” was the question posed to me. The crowd wanted a person fired but needed my title and position to make it happen. After meeting with the person, I gathered enough “evidence” to make the call, although it took a while to find anything really wrong. They had to go, was my final thought. I mean, this person wasn’t going to matter in the long run, right?

• There were times when I traded in my values to do what the crowd wanted me to do.
• There were times when I went with the crowd to protect “my” world.
• There were times when I overlooked the innocent to figure out how to make the rich richer.

The church leaders had enough of JESUS and wanted to have HIM killed but they couldn’t figure out how to do it and keep their “holy” appearance. Judas was open minded enough to have Satan tempt him into betraying JESUS. Judas saw this wonderful amount of money offered and figured this person didn’t matter in the long run.

• GOD says to me “Every person matters to ME.”
• GOD says to me “Do not let your heart be so concerned with getting your way that you allow Satan to drive your desires.”
• GOD says to me “Narrow is the path, but stay on it and I will be your guide.”

One day I will have to stand before GOD and account for everything I have done. Unlike a monetary system, sin outweighs any “good” I could ever do. JESUS did an unfair trade for me. HE gave HIS life in place of mine. HE decided to take my punishment in order to rescue me. I cannot thank JESUS enough for what HE has done.

• Are you justifying being “unfair” to someone?
• Do you think your slander is not seen by GOD?
• Will you turn your heart over to GOD and allow HIM to guide your words today?

Don’t Play

Luke 20: ⁴⁵ While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ ‘Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. ⁴⁷ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.’

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“I dare you to tap his arm” was the playground statement posed to me. This person was known for fighting and had an extremely short fuse. I wandered over and as I got close he turned around and said “Don’t play with me!” I could tell he meant it and, not risking a beating, I walked away. Laughter ensued.

• There were times when I heeded the warnings.
• There were times when I read the signs correctly in spite of what everyone thought.
• There were times when I was forced into using proper judgment.

JESUS warns the people not to be like the church leaders who loved their positions more than GOD or HIS people. HE knew they had money and power on their minds and spoke harshly against it. Even though their prayers contained the word “GOD,” JESUS knew their hearts were not on HIM.

• GOD says to me “Follow MY commands.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are the pure at heart for they shall see GOD.”
• GOD says to me “Ask and I will cleanse you of all unrighteousness.”

Comfort and security in cash can sometimes lead me to forget GOD like the Sadducees did. I mean I can see all the symptoms. When someone is in need I can’t give, because I’m preparing for the next problem that could arise any day. But when a rich person asks for a lunch, then of course I will be there.

GOD wants my availability, my humbleness and my desires to be placed at HIS feet. HE wants me to seek HIM rather than positions, titles and piles of cash. GOD expects me to act different and thank HIM for what HE has done daily. I will not play around with HIS word.

• Is GOD truly first in your life?
• When will you get serious about GOD in your life?
• Will you ask GOD to help you let go of the things that you should not be holding onto?

Empty Promises

Isaiah 36: ¹³ Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! ¹⁴ This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! ¹⁵ Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, ‘The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.’

¹⁶ “Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then each of you will eat fruit from your own vine and fig tree and drink water from your own cistern, ¹⁷ until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.

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“I’d like to promote you” were the words of one who felt he was on his way up. Two months later he was fired. “If you would just work a little harder then…” were the promises of another manager. I worked harder and she was promoted and I stayed where I was. “I like your style, I want to promote you” were the words of the next boss. Wait, I think I heard these words before.

• Sometimes I had desires that were not in the best direction.
• Sometimes I had desires that were expressed but not understood.
• Sometimes I had desires that were surprisingly miscalculated.

After I heard the empty words from another manager, I thought I would take my career in my own hands. I climbed the ladder only to find dead grass rather than green grass. The fame and fortune was there but something was missing, GOD.

• GOD says to me “Do not be ashamed of me or I will be ashamed of you.”
• GOD says to me “Trust in the LORD with all your heart.”
• GOD says to me “Do not believe in flattering words, believe in the LORD your GOD.”

Companies threaten to take money away or they flatter with giving more money. I bought into the latter and found myself with less time for GOD and more time for work. BUT GOD was gracious. HE was glorious enough to allow me this away time from HIM. HE welcomed me back with open arms and guided me to HIS safety.

• Are you being threatened?
• Does the situation seem hopeless?
• Are you tempted to give up on GOD?
• Can you return back to HIM and believe in HIS deliverance?

Taking over THE Throne

Isaiah 14: ¹² How you have fallen from heaven,
    morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
    you who once laid low the nations!
¹³ You said in your heart,
    “I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
    above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
    on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.
¹⁴ I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
    I will make myself like the Most High.”
¹⁵ But you are brought down to the realm of the dead,
    to the depths of the pit.

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Sitting in the audience of a dynamic speaker made me want to attend speaker training. After my lessons I felt I could take on the world! Listening to a sermon and watching everyone around me fall asleep, I said to myself “I could probably say that message with more excitement.”

• When I think more highly of myself, I may be putting someone else down.
• When my confidence turns into arrogance, I may be headed in the wrong direction.
• When I look at other people as the problem instead of them being part of the solution I may be in trouble.

Having a “kingdom” on earth means having followers who believe in “me.”  Whether it’s a kingdom on social media or a crowd who listens to me speak, it is still a kingdom. The problem with having a kingdom is the “end” stops at me. I mean I get the accolades and feel pretty good about myself but that is as far as it goes. What should I be doing?

• Instead of building a kingdom for myself, I should build a kingdom for GOD.
• Instead of having people look at me, I should have them look at GOD.
• Instead of getting the praise, I should have them give GOD ALL the praise.

Accolades on earth can be quite tempting. A group of social friends who “like” my stuff feels good, but if my life is not pointing to GOD, it is a waste. In fact, I start becoming “g”od when I like my crowd a little too much. I start wanting control of my life and blaming “G”OD for my problems. After a while my life becomes filled with blame, remorse and doubt instead of praise, appreciation and joy. 

GOD wants me to elevate HIM to HIS proper place. HE commands respect and desires my love. HE is the MOST HIGH, not me and I should always keep this perspective.

• Are you blaming GOD for where you are?
• Do you feel you deserve better and wish to “take control” of your life?
• Can you give GOD your life and let HIM do with it as HE pleases?
• Will you humble yourself and grow GOD’s kingdom in spite of your circumstances?

Wanting what They Have

Proverbs 23: Saying 15

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,
    but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
¹⁸ There is surely a future hope for you,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

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With a scowl, the partner closed his door on us. I always wanted to know what words were said behind those closed doors. I tried to get myself invited to the meeting and I made numerous attempts to get placed at the table to no avail. Why can’t I be like them? Maybe I have to frown more.

• Sometimes I wanted what other people had.
• Sometimes I desired to have what others seemed to get easily.
• Sometimes I craved what someone was.

As I climbed the ladder of success, I noticed I had to take an oath of silence when it came to low moral events. To be “in” the club I had to witness drunkenness followed by who knows what, and not tell. My envy turned cold as GOD opened my eyes.

• GOD says to me “Do not envy those who have gained wealth easily for you know not how they acquired it.”
• GOD says to me “Stay faithful to ME in lean times and in plenty and I will keep your hope strong.”
• GOD says to me “Better to fear ME and do what is right than to forget ME and lose your soul.”

Why gain the world and lose my soul? GOD says to me “I will supply all of your needs” and HE means that. HE provides for me daily and keeps my hope whole.

• Are you jealous of someone?
• Do you think “that” rich person is someone to envy?
• Do you spend your time talking about others and not about yourself?
• Will you focus on fearing GOD instead of talking about other people?