Keeping the Focus..

As the leader in my home it is up to me to keep everyone focused on Christ and His glory. One of the ways I attempt to keep the focus is to prayerfully seek Gods direction on what verses He would have us cling to. About 2 months ago the Lord really impressed on me Matthew 16:24-26. The mission we are trying to focus on is; is our discipleship costing us or are we deceived? Would He say "depart from me I never knew you, or well done good and faithful servant." Since we are in a battle and as humans are prone to laziness, I find it very necessary to examine our walk with Christ intensely in contrast to Christ's harshest demands. Looking at Christ as only the lamb leads to an imbalanced view of Him. We must remember He is the Lion and Lamb. As one good preacher put it He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He will bolt out of Heaven on a white horse, His garments are dripped in blood and He is coming to dominate and to slaughter. This coming King has always upheld perfect forgiveness while upholding perfect righteousness. "YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS." The cost is very great, your life, not just the physical, but your idols, dreams, hopes, aspirations. We must put them out side the camp where they belong, and be like Christ and say for the JOY set before us we despise all and run to Him. And in the end our reward will be great we will get Him.

This is what I have posted on the Frig...

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

25 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

- Aaron