April 6
MOST BLESSED

Luke 11:27-12:7            New International Version (NIV)

 

²⁷ As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹ As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body

³³ “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,^[b] your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶ Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”

Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law

³⁷ When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. ³⁸ But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
⁴² “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
⁴³ “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.
⁴⁴ “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”
⁴⁶ Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
⁴⁷ “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. ⁴⁹ Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ ⁵⁰ Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, ⁵¹ from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.
⁵² “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
⁵³ When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions, ⁵⁴ waiting to catch him in something he might say.

Warnings and Encouragements

12 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be^[c] on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. ² There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ³ What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

⁴ “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ⁵ But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. ⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. ⁷ Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
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The first verses of today's scripture captured my heart as soon as I put them up today!
The woman in the crowd cries out, "blessed is the mother who gave you birth..."
But Jesus reply is stunning!
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
If you would, take a moment and think about each word in that brief sentence as it pertains to you personally.
Then let the Holy Spirit reveal the application of that scripture to you.
you will be "most blessed"!



 

April 5

Luke 11:14-36

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus and Beelzebul

¹⁴ Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. ¹⁵ But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” ¹⁶ Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
¹⁷ Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. ¹⁸ If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
²¹ “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. ²² But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.
²³ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
²⁴ “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ ²⁵ When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.”
²⁷ As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

The Sign of Jonah

²⁹ As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. ³¹ The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. ³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

The Lamp of the Body

³³ “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,^[a] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,^[b] your body also is full of darkness. ³⁵ See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. ³⁶ Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”
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vs 23: Am I guilty of being offended by those whose ministry is different from what I am use to? Do I make the choice to steer clear from slander, denegrating, or passing judgement on ministries other than that of my own denomination?
vs 28: Help me to be sensitive to your Will Lord, help me to draw close to you...pressing in to you.... so that I can hear your Word to me and to this generation.
vs 36: God's light is able to shine a light in and through me so that my very life will point others to Him. My responsibility is to keep filled with His Light.... staying near Him in prayer and in the Bible.
Remember, dear ones, the smallest light can dispel the deepest darkness!
In this dark world, it is SO VITALLY  important that you let the light of Jesus Christ shine through you.
There are so many people who have lived in darkness for so long that their eyes have adjusted to it. I believe they don't even realize that the darkness has enveloped them.
But you, oh beloved of God, have it IN YOU to dispel that darkness for them, by sharing the truth and LIGHT of Jesus Christ with them.

Footnotes:

1. Luke 11:34 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
2. Luke 11:34 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.

April 4
Good Gifts

Luke 10:38-11:13

New International Version (NIV)

At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,^[b]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.^[c]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.⁴ Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.^[d]
And lead us not into temptation.^[e]’”

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity^[f] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for^[g] a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Footnotes:

1. Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts but only one thing is needed
2. Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven
3. Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
4. Luke 11:4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us
5. Luke 11:4 Some manuscripts temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
6. Luke 11:8 Or yet to preserve his good name
7. Luke 11:11 Some manuscripts for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for

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My husband is such a wonderful man!
BUT......he is very difficult to buy a gift for.
I have spent weeks of searching and planning to get him the perfect birthday gift, only to have him open the box, hold the long sought after (on my part! ) item, smile and lay it down. Do you know that I am just crushed when this happens.. My joy at finding a gift that I am sure he will love, far exceeds his joy at receiving a gift.
This puzzled me so much because  I LOVE LOVE LOVE  receiving gifts. Wrapping paper torn off , thrown on the floor....ripping through boxes taped shut only heightens my anticipation to get at the prize.... the wonderful GIFT!
Gifts for me don't have to be extravagant either, as long as they are something that the giver really believes I will love. And if they know me , the giver is usually spot on.
Did I mention that I LOVE  gifts?
Maybe this is a key factor in my love for the Lord, because as much as I LOVE LOVE LOVE to receive gifts, His delight in giving gifts to me far exceeds my understanding.
He reminds us in today's Word, that He is ready to give us His gracious love at every turn!
Most especially, He tells us that He is ready with exactly what we need at exactly the right time.
When we search for Him: HE WILL BE THERE!
When we knock at some door, trying to gain entrance into the place where He is: THAT DOOR WILL OPENED!
When we feel a need or desire pressuring us and we place that request at His feet; He says, that person WILL RECEIVE!
So very precious, is vs 13, as Jesus reminds us that our Father, in Heaven, is "like" our earthly father. 
 He is divinely driven to give us the same kind of gifts as our earthly father.......gifts that will help us, gifts that will give us pleasure but also will help us to fulfill His purpose and plan for us.
God is the perfect gift giver...He always knows precisely what I need.
If we ask, we will RECEIVE........
The question is: Are you bold enough to continually ask Him, to continually seek Him, unashamedly..........staying fixed on Him, undeterred no matter what my circumstance, knocking and refusing to be distracted......
knowing that He will give me the Holy Spirit so that I will be totally in line with His  Will, His Truth, and His Way...........totally in line with Jesus Christ the One and Only Son of God.

Knocking on that door, and knowing that He will open it to me.........
So that I may BASK IN HIS WONDERFUL PRESENCE!
What a gift that is to me.........His presence.....His love..... His mercy and grace...... I delight in opening up those precious gifts each and every day..........Amen!

April 3
And Like A Good Neighbor...

Luke 10:13-37

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.^[a]
16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
¹⁸ He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ²⁰ However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
²¹ At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
²² “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
²³ Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. ²⁴ For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’^[b]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c]”
²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[d] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Footnotes:

1. Luke 10:15 That is, the realm of the dead
2. Luke 10:27 Deut. 6:5
3. Luke 10:27 Lev. 19:18
4. Luke 10:35 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).

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Living in today's chaotic world, we have some real challenges put before us, in living out the Lord's command to love our neighbors.
As I contemplate that statement, I realize that it has been that way FOREVER....
From ancient biblical times until the present day, we humans just seem to have a hard time getting along with one another.
Because of cultural differences, generational differences, personal convictions, etc, we hold ourselves above and away those who don't agree with us.
But in God's view, what is our responsibility to humanity?
He makes it very clear, doesn't He..."Love your neighbor as yourself".
We tend to take pretty good care of ourselves. As much as is possible, when our "self" tells us we are hungry........we eat something satisfying.
When our "self" is too hot..... we try to get to a cooler place in the shade, or inside out of the heat.
When our "self" is too cold......we build a bigger fire ........turn up the thermostat on the furnace..... put on an extra blanket.
When our "self" is thirsty.... we get a wonderful cool glass of water.
That is the kind of care we are supposed to take of our neighbors.....
When we love them with the love of Christ, we will have our eyes opened and our sensitivities made more aware, of those neighbors of ours who have needs that we can meet.
Of course, as individuals, we cannot possibly meet the needs of every person, on our own. But just think of how it would change the world if each of us individually, took this very seriously.........as we should.........yes?
Ask the Lord to show you a neighbor that you can bless today........
And......God will bless you for it!
Keep your eyes ............and your heart......open!

Cross references:

1. Luke 10:13 : Lk 6:24-26
2. Luke 10:13 : S Rev 11:3
3. Luke 10:15 : S Mt 4:13
4. Luke 10:16 : S Mt 10:40
5. Luke 10:17 : ver 1
6. Luke 10:17 : S Mk 16:17
7. Luke 10:18 : S Mt 4:10
8. Luke 10:18 : Isa 14:12; Rev 9:1; 12:8, 9
9. Luke 10:19 : Mk 16:18; Ac 28:3-5
10. Luke 10:20 : S Rev 20:12
11. Luke 10:21 : 1Co 1:26-29
12. Luke 10:22 : S Mt 28:18
13. Luke 10:22 : Jn 1:18
14. Luke 10:24 : 1Pe 1:10-12
15. Luke 10:25 : 10:25-28pp — Mt 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-31
16. Luke 10:25 : Mt 19:16; Lk 18:18
17. Luke 10:27 : Dt 6:5
18. Luke 10:27 : Lev 19:18; S Mt 5:43
19. Luke 10:28 : S Ro 7:10
20. Luke 10:29 : Lk 16:15
21. Luke 10:31 : Lev 21:1-3
22. Luke 10:33 : S Mt 10:5

 

April 2
CREATURE COMFORTS

Luke 9:28-10:12

New International Version (NIV)

The Transfiguration

²⁸ About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. ²⁹ As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. ³⁰ Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. ³¹ They spoke about his departure,^[a] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. ³³ As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” ³⁶ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy

³⁷ The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

⁴¹ “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

⁴² Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. ⁴³ And they were all amazed at the greatness of God.

Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

⁴⁶ An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. ⁴⁷ Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. ⁴⁸ Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

⁴⁹ “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

⁵⁰ “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Samaritan Opposition

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them^[b]?” ⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The Cost of Following Jesus

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.”

But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”

⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two

10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two^[c] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. ⁹ Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ¹⁰ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ¹¹ ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ ¹² I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

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There are so many seemingly difficult things that the Lord asks us to leave behind in order to walk that path of righteousness with Him.

 

Of course, some things are easier to turn away from than others...

 

The problem comes when I sense that my lifestyle is a becoming a barrier between me and the Lord Jesus. ....

On the other hand,  leaving that old life behind puts a barrier between me and the things that I believe define me as a person in this world.

 

How can I be expected to walk away from....................

•  life-long friends
•  being invited to every party and social event
•  wearing expensive or very trendy clothing ( even though it may be revealing)
•  seeking luxury (because I deserve it! and can not get enough)
•  my family
•  proving myself to be the most intelligent, most wise, most liberated individual
•  travelling to exotic locations
•  watching my "favorite" tv shows
•  drinking
•  smoking
• using drugs to numb my pain or to just get me through the day, or just to be "in"
• spending my money and using all my resources seeking pleasure, power, or prestige

The Lord does not ask that we leave these things BEFORE we seek Him out .....BEFORE we surrender our lives to Him...
But......as we grow closer to Him, we will find it becomes more and more difficult to remain faithful to Him in all things if we keep trying to live fully " in the world".

Letting go of "the way we have always" done life may seem painful at first, but the rich and satisfying life that we find in Jesus will be worth every struggle....every small sacrifice.