Do you want to be a strong Christian? Most of us do but then again most of us don't do anything about it. We know what we want to be but we don't like what it takes to get there. It is true physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Most of us consider ourselves Christian even if we have no idea what that means. If we knew what it meant many would drop the title. In these finals days of life as we know it on this planet, we need to understand what it is to be a Christian and decide if that is what we want to be. If we do, then we need to grab a hold of it with both hands and give ourselves completely to Jesus.
Do you know that Jesus said that if we put our hand to the plow and then become double minded. looking back, wishing we could go back, we are not worthy of him. He said many things like this to make it clear that to follow him is to give everything or gain nothing. Remember these words:
"All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23
There is no half way with Jesus but that is how most of us live: half-heartedly.
When Paul preached in Corinth, he described his approach this way:
I had made up my mind not to think about anything while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)
Not double, triple or quadruple minded like us but single minded. Paul set aside everything else he knew so he could concentrate only on Jesus. Why was Paul used so much by Jesus? Because he had such a great skill set, such intelligence, such knowledge? Paul said he set aside all he had been to pursue Jesus. No, it wasn't Paul's skills or intelligence but his availability and singleness of mind. He had one purpose, to make disciples and see the Kingdom increase.
In these last days we need to throw off everything that has caused us to be double minded. We can't give the enemy even a small crack of opportunity to distract and separate us. We need to see our purpose to glorify Jesus with our lives, to make disciples, and to be available for his directions. And then pour all our selves into this purpose.
But knowing what we need to do and actually doing it are two different things. There are a lot of pleasures in this world that seem very innocent, not sinful at all. But are they beneficial? Do they bring us closer to Jesus? Do they add to the Kingdom? Or are they a root cause for our double mindedness?
Do we really want to follow Jesus in these final days? I hope we do because things are about to get even more confusing. If we haven't hidden ourselves in Jesus we are going to be lost. But things need to change in us. We need to ask for more of the Spirit, to surrender anything that is not a benefit to our growth and the growth of others and give 100% to the mission at hand.
"I made up my mind..."
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