Yesterday, I called us to get serious about our relationship with Jesus. Today, we look at HOW to do it.

11 Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies [mirages, smoke and mirrors] have no sense.

The blessings of Christ may be different than you were led to believe. Jesus said to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” (John 18:36), and neither are most of His blessings. He DOES take care of our earthly needs, such as food, drink, and clothing (Matthew 6:25-32). What He asks of us is to seek His spiritual kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). Chasing after the things of this world only leads to slavery of the soul (John 8:34).

12 The wicked desire the plunder of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.
23:17-18 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

I’m going to go a step further. Anything we think, say, or do that is NOT HOLY SPIRIT-GUIDED leads to sin–in fact, it is sin already because it is done in OUR power and by OUR will, not His. If we understand this statement, then we are ready for the HARD passage:

⁸ If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Matthew 18:8-9

A rather gruesome illustration, isn’t it? Jesus got graphic because the topic is REALLY IMPORTANT. Things in our lives that cause us to look away from Him lead us back into sin and slavery. SIN DESTROYS US. Salvation is NOT just a one-time event, but rather the beginning of our relationship with Christ that leads us out of a life of sin and into His glorious light. Jesus gives three examples:

1. Our hand- It is representative of what we do. All we do must be Spirit-led or it is of the flesh (our sinful nature). We are either gathering with Jesus or scattering against Him (Matthew 12:30).
2. Our foot- It is representative of where we go. Jesus said, “Follow Me.”  It wasn’t a suggestion; it’s a way of life, THE WAY of life. Jesus is the Way, He is our Truth, and He is our life. HE is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). When we seek the Father daily, we seek Him THROUGH Jesus.
3. Our eye- It is representative of what we see. Peter had his eyes on Jesus and he was walking on water! (See Matthew 14:22-33). But then, he looked at the wind and waves and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus, who reached out and lifted him up. They walked on water together back to the boat. The writer of Hebrews tells us that when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can endure anything (Hebrews 12:1-3).

We must be willing to give up anything and everything that hinders us from setting our eyes on Jesus and keeping them there. The ONE thing that I don’t want to happen is for Mark 4:19 to come true in my life: “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word [the things Jesus told me], making it [me] unfruitful.”

How about you? Are your ready and willing to lay everything on the altar–even yourself? It’s what it takes to follow Christ. “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies [lives] to God because of all he has done for you. Let them [our lives] be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” Romans 12:1.

Abba, I am willing. I’ve been willing through the years, but I must keep on being willing. I want to finish well. My goal is to hear You say to me, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and share your Master’s happiness (Matthew 25:21).” May I die to myself daily, take up my cross and follow You wherever You lead (Luke 9:23). I know You’ll equip me, energize me, uphold me, and eventually deliver me right into my Father’s arms! I can hardly wait, LORD. Until then, I remain Your humble servant.