There is No Turning Back

Matthew 8:18-22 >>

18When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

21Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

22But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

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1. In facing day-to-day pressures, my attitude and commitment to God I think is alright, but I believe He is changing me to be better and better each day. I sometimes can call into temptation, pressure and sin so I need to constantly be connected to God. I try to guard my words and mood and remind myself in Christ, I am “more than a conqueror.”
2. To improve to make myself have a firmer commitment to God, I can get proper rest and not be a busy-body but focus and KNOW what His will for me is.

Renew a Commitment That Started to Fade

Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 >>
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance.55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there.56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”
“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.
59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

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Comments:

Peter’s commitment to God was enthusiastic, but he perhaps was afraid and denied Jesus three times. Perhaps he was caught up in the moment and let his emotions take over. Perhaps he was disappointed. In either case, we should not let our circumstances, place and situation dictate our level of commitment. We should be wise in how we express it, but not be ashamed of God ever.

To Make an Impact: We Need Commitment to Christ

Luke 14:25-35

[A] – ACCEPT / RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:  I will ask the Holy Spirit to guide me in meditating on God’s Word so that I can experience an encounter with the Lord in His righteousness, and experience change.

Luke 14:25-35 >>
The Cost of Being a Disciple

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26″If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28″Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

31″Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

1.
The Lord is teaching

34″Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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1. Jesus is teaching us to carry the cross, and to also hae a good foundation in every project that we have.
2. Some things that are burdening my steps are past regrets that guilt from past sins! I need to believe and accept God’s full forgiveness and not give in to the accuser of the brethren!
3. I think I am making an impact in bringing change to my family, school, associations and work environment.

5 Things I desire to do to be a salt and make an influence in my family, associations, school, and workplace:
1. Regularly keep in contact with girls in DC and SC
2. Stay holy and do not give in to sexual temptation and wandering eyes (especially now that I’m engaged!)
3. Do my work diligently
4. Live out the Word of God
5. Love my neighbors as myself

WHAT STILL PREVENT ME FROM LOVING?

Matthew 19:16-22 >>
16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep* the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” 21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

1. The problem that prevented the young man from following Jesus wholeheartedly in the verse is that he had many possessions, he may have thought he was doing a lot already (obeying God’s commandments), and didn’t want to forsake his possessions. It was easy for him to do, but perhaps not so easy to give it all.
2. What is currently preventing me from following Christ wholeheartedly is the need to focus more and just be more aware. Then I can better plan, prioritize and do things intentionally, while at the same time trusting in God.