Not for faint of heart

 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2 Tim 4:6-8 (NASB95)

Being a Christ follower is not for the faint of heart.  Paul doesn't beat around the bush with Timothy.  He reminds him that serving the King is going to require some difficult choices, circumstances and consequences.  Paul reminds us that serving means we must sacrifice ourselves willingly.  That goes against the grain for us.  We often seek comfort rather than sacrifice.

There is also required the need to get into the struggle for the Kingdom.  Kingdom living is equated to a fight or wrestling match.  Paul also describes it as running a marathon that requires endurance to finish the race no matter how much it hurts.

Yes being a Christ follower requires a commitment in which we give all but also remember the rewards.  Eternity with Him, a Crown of Righteousness and of course a, "well done, good and faithful servant."  Keep striving today in your commitment to following King Jesus!

A Good Declaration!

 I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.”

Psalms 16:2 (HCSB)

Isn't that a great statement?  David's declaration is a complete devotion to God alone.  That is the kind of dedication and commitment we should have to our Master.  But do we really?

David was a man after God's own heart so certainly he never turned away his complete devotion from the Lord to other things.  David never sinned and broke fellowship with God, did he?  Yes we know he did and yet God still saw him as a man after God's own heart.

Well what about us?  We too find ourselves forsaking our commitment to Christ.  Rather than completely devoted and following Christ we sometimes find ourselves chasing after other things.  We find ourselves deep in sin.  But God is good, gracious and merciful.  What a great God we serve.  What a great God to give our complete devotion too.

Treasure

Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt 6:19-21 (HCSB)

Love God

He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important commandment. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matt 22:37-39 (HCSB)

If Jesus said it, is there any doubt? No not really. Jesus said love the Lord but He qualified that love. If asked we would say, "Oh absolutely, I love the Lord!" But do we really love Him the way Jesus instructs. We sometimes think that love for God means we try to "be good" or we go to church. We make every effort to "not cuss or chew or go with girls who do!" But is that really the measure of our love? No, Jesus says the measure is our hearts, soul and mind. Basically it is this do we put all that we are into loving Him? Do we hold some things back? Is there some of us that we keep in reserve? Jesus says, "give it all." Hold nothing back and love God with all your being. Then you are really loving God.

Run the Race

Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

1 Cor 9:24-25 (HCSB)

How are you running the race? Are you serious about the race set before you? The words of Dr. Blackaby challenged me about many areas of my life.

Are you striving to bring your body into subjection for the glory of God? Are you training your mind to think the thoughts of God rather than thoughts of the world? Are you disciplining your life in prayer? When others are sleeping, are you interceding? Have you studied God's word so diligently that you are prepared to find answers to the challenges you face? Have you equipped yourself in evangelism so that you are ready to share your faith? Have you prepared yourself as a Christian in order to qualify for the imperishable crown that awaits you?
(Henry & Richard Blackaby —Experiencing God Day by Day. July 7, Pg. 189)

I want to run the race in such a way as to win. To give my all to my savior and Lord. I want to be serious about being a Christ follower and not someone who goes to church and does some Christian duties. I want to be completely and whole heartedly sold out for Him.