Kingdom Success
Matthew 8:18-20 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he told his followers to go to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you any place you go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes to live in. The birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to rest.”
“If only the whole world would revolve around me.” Isn’t that, all too often, our heart’s desire? We know it’s unrealistic, but honestly, what we really want is for everyone to dance to our tune; for everything to go our way.
The reason for that is that we’ve been programmed with the idea that life – our lives in particular – should be filled with success. What’s success? Well, it’s whatever we want it to be – our way, our tune. And that attitude, let’s be honest, creeps into our relationship with God.
Consider for a moment your prayer life. How much of it involves asking God for stuff, with the basic idea in the back of your mind that His plans must surely revolve around you, your comfort, your … success. But the Bible knows little, if anything, about worldly success.
Matthew 8:18-20 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he told his followers to go to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you any place you go.” Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes to live in. The birds have nests. But the Son of Man has no place to rest.”
God’s plan for you and for me isn’t a life of comfort, but one of sacrifice and sometimes of suffering. That’s why He spoke those words to the teacher whose heart was to follow Him.
Don’t you realise? If you want to follow me, it’s not going to be an easy ride. It’s not going to be a life of comfort and compromise, but of sacrifice and suffering.
That’s what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus. He isn’t going to dance to your tune. Not everything’s going to go your way.
So, will you follow Him anyway?
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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Yvette
I’m very pleased to learn more and more about the Lord. I love Him so much He has done so many things for me. ...
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I’m very pleased to learn more and more about the Lord. I love Him so much He has done so many things for me. I’m encouraged by your word daily.
Helen Loizos
Thank you Berni. Your words are always in season. I’m encouraged even if it’s the only scripture I read on ...
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Thank you Berni.
Your words are always in season.
I’m encouraged even if it’s the only scripture I read on a day, it makes me try to place myself on the Lord’s ways. It’s not always easy, but it remains, He gives me a new start daily. He promises to complete the work in each of us He’s started. We run to Him, safe and protected. We fail people, I do almost on a daily basis, but he still loves me… That’s the confidence of knowing I’m still ok with him.