. . . . .

. . . . .

Jan 15, 2017

Jesus Matters


What really matters anyway?  Family, friends, health, travel, work or business, and God could be potential responses to this questions. The real answer lies in the details of your life. Stop and consider how you spend your time. If you count the hours in a day or week and list how they were spent you will quickly find the answer to what matters in your life. 

In the New Testament we are provided several examples when the answer to, "what really matters anyway?", is clearly not Jesus. Perhaps your life demonstrates otherwise. These examples are provided to point out what could get in the way of Jesus in your life.

- In Matthew 19:20-22, a young rich man asks Jesus what he needs to do to follow him. Jesus instructed the man to sell his possession and give them to the poor and then follow Jesus. The rich man determined he could not do this and let his wealth keep him from following Jesus. Perhaps you too find that your need to provide for your family absorbs you with no time left for God.

 In Luke 10:38-42, we learn that Martha let busyness and distraction keep her from hearing the word of God and being in the presence of Jesus, even as he was right there with her in the flesh! How much more easily is it for you to be distracted from Jesus and the Word with all the distractions in your life?

We learn in all four Gospels about the way Peter denied Jesus, just as Jesus had told him he would. Fear, embarrassment and not wanting to be different and singled out, Peter denied Christ three times. This may be something you have experienced in your own life that keeps you from sharing, acknowledging and fully living in Christ.

Let these examples open your eyes, heart, and mind to just a few ways that the enemy may deter you from following Jesus and having Him be what really matters in your life. Stay steady in prayer and guard your time, so that Jesus is not an afterthought or add on to your life, but rather the essence of all your are.

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24