Scripture
Our verse for today comes from Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
Background
You have probably heard the Robert Burns quote, “the best laid plans of mice and men.” what it’s generally referring to is the tendency for plans, no matter their size or importance, to change beyond our control or expectation. This morning is one of those times for me. What I had planned on writing has been replaced by something else, primarily as the result of conversations from early this morning. Although we weren’t talking specifically about daily devotion times, we did discuss things that affect our daily seeking Jesus. What struck me most was how content so many of us are just to be Christians. We’re not all that interested in becoming like Jesus, just as long as one day we’ll be coming to be with Jesus. After all, He said while He was on earth that He didn’t even have a place to lay His head. Now, our spiritual state is not just because we are lazy, although we are. and it’s not just because it takes time and effort, which we gladly put into other pursuits. No, I think we’re content because we don’t see the point. We don’t accept it when James tells us that Elijah was a man just like us. We know Jesus is God’s Son, and there’s only one of Him. We read of the great apostles and prophets and place them somewhere below Jesus. Then we see the unsaved around us and put ourselves comfortably above them. and that’s where we want to stay.
Application
We know if we seek Jesus, that we will find Him, and then He will change us and make us fishers of men. He will make us actually use the faith that we hold so dear. He will tell us to come and follow Him rather than Him follow us. That’s the Jesus that we want to keep in our Bibles instead of walk around in our shoes. But just remember His promise, “whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” that sounds like true contentment.
Charge
As we seek Him today, ask God to reveal to you your contentment in this world. Ask Him to give you an unrest that pushes you closer to Him. Ask Him for faith that will make a difference for His glory.
