“No” Practice

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. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. ²⁷ But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”

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“Do you want some weed?” was the strange question of a person offering the drug to me. “No” I said in an “Are you kidding?” way. “Can you be my lookout as I pick up something” one thug said to me as he was shoplifting. “No” I said as I eased away from the beating. “You want to go out, get drunk and hang with a bunch of loose women?” a buddy asked me. “What time?” I answered.

• There were many times when I said “yes” when I should have said no.
• There were many times when the day was filled with “my” desires.
• There were many times when I had no time for anything else but “me.”

JESUS gives a harder lesson to the crowd. “Deny yourself and follow ME.” This message truly conflicts with the “way of life.” JESUS wanted the crowd to not pay attention to their desires as much and pay attention to HIS desires.

• GOD wants me to seek HIS face daily.
• GOD wants me to pray to HIM daily.
• GOD wants me to make my decisions based on serving HIM daily.

When I want to sin, GOD wants me to practice saying “No.” As with any practice, I will fail and fall into the sin I was trying to avoid. GOD says to me “It’s okay. I forgive you. Try again tomorrow and the next day and the next.” HE knows my short comings and still watches over me, giving me practice to strengthen my faith.

Practice also includes not being ashamed of JESUS. Bold speech about HIM is one thing but HE also wants me to boldly admit my sins and speak on the more shameful sides of me and to do it in HIS name. It takes practice to deny the pride of looking perfect. Only GOD is perfect.

• Are you trying to pretend everything is well with you when you meet with church goers?
• Is your life a mess for real but you are wearing a mask?
• Can you deny your pride and admit the more ugly side of you and tell people you are saved through CHRIST in spite of your actions?

Truth of Being Good

Mark 14: ²⁷ Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:

‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.’

²⁸ “But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

³⁰ Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

³¹ But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

And they all said likewise.

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Giving up the clubbing lifestyle was pretty drastic for me. With my renewed faith, I vowed to leave the “hanging out” scene alone. Weeks passed and I was doing pretty good then one person asked, “Do you want to come out with us?” I was single and there were going to be a bunch of women and booze there. “Yes!” I answered, knowing the crowd.

• There have been times I have tried to be good and failed.
• There have been times when I told GOD, “I am not going to ever do ‘that’ again” and did “that” hours later.
• There have been times when I hid my relationship with CHRIST.

JESUS points out the main reason HE became a human, namely to die for our sins. HE tells the disciples that they would deny HIM just like everyone in the world. HE knew the poison racing through their veins causes every human to sin and there was no exception.

• GOD says to me “I know your ways and I forgive you.”
• GOD says to me “I understand how you were made and I love you.”
• GOD says to me “I know the struggles you go through and I have a wonderful plan for you, plans to grow you for the good of the kingdom.”

In the middle of my sin CHRIST died for me. HE doesn’t stop me from sinning rather HE allows me to go right ahead and sin my brains out and turns right around and says “you are forgiven.” HE then draws me to HIM rather than pushing me away. HE comforts me when I do not deserve comforting and heals me when I make the wounds. My good can never match HIS love for me.

• Do you think you are good?
• Do you beat yourself up for your good being faulty?
• Can you stop thinking you goodness can save you and look to CHRIST who has truly taken care of it all for you?

Lifejacket

Matthew 19: ²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

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“Lifejacket” I thought to myself. “Why would I need one of those? Will we sink? Is this boat safe? This was my reaction to my first boat ride in a small two oar boat. I clung onto what I thought would save me and did not enjoy the trip, at first.

• I have clung onto things I thought would save me.
• I have broken my neck to remain “insured.”
• I thought doctors, investors and insurance people could protect me.

One item I could not protect with my lifejacket was my soul. As precious as I thought my body was, my soul was so much more important. JESUS talks about this with HIS disciples. “Who then can be saved?” they asked in response to the wealthy having a difficult time entering heaven.

• GOD wants my total trust in HIM
• GOD does not want me to think I can save myself by “my” wealth or diet or exercise.
• GOD wants me to place an impossible task in HIS hands and allow HIM to wipe away my mountain of sins.

It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven mainly because wealth blinds. With extreme wealth, family and friends soon look like problems rather than sheep who need feeding. JESUS wants me to see others around me who need HIS kingdom. HE especially wants me to see that I need HIM more than anything.

• Are you chasing wealth?
• Are you blinded by your things?
• Can you seek GOD first before you seek wealth?
• Will you allow GOD to steer you in HIS direction today?