June 21st Bible Reading: Matthew 14-16

Unreserved Love is The Cost

The Cost of being a Disciple of Jesus.

Something that I know has been heavy in contemplation on my heart of late, and seemingly many others as well. I would like to take a quick moment to share a few short matter that God has been speaking to me in recent days.

For one, it is the continuous and moment by moment rejection of pride.

It is true that on this earth and in this mortal state we may never be able to fully escape the recurring darkness of the prideful spirit, but we do know that in Christ who gives us strength, we can draw closer and closer unto Him until the day of our departure so that we are growing more humble and more like Him day after day.

On, another note, there is the passage of Luke 14, which has long plagued my thoughts for it probes ideas that can at first glance seem almost unchristian and entirely contrary to the very nature of God.

Jesus expresses in this chapter, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."

The problem that I first found in this passage was not in hating my own life, for that seems to be easy, but rather hating my family. Something that altered my ignorant perspective was the words of David Platt in his marvelous book, Radical.

He articulates in his book, after bringing up this passage, "This is where we come face to face with the dangerous reality. We do have to give up everything to follow Jesus. We do have to love Him in a way that makes our closest relationships in this world look like hate." (pg. 12-13)

This opened my eyes to an understanding that played off and added on to things that God have previously been showing me. Such as loving Him above all other things and letting Him be enough.

That was a radical realization that I had to come in my walk with God.

Am I loving His hand more than His face?

Am I loving the people and relationships He has blessed me with more than Him?

Do I ever waver in where my true love lies?

These thoughts have entered into my heart and have caused me to view how I approach God in all things in a different and more fearful manner.

For if I want to enter into the extraordinary calling He has for me, but I'm going to have to truly and radically let God change the very being of me so that I approach His throne out of a regard entirely for Him and Him alone.

Loving God more than anything. That is the cost of Christianity.
Or at least the base-plate of it.

And truly, it is worth it.

And when one day we gather together in God's holy courts to sing His praises, there will be in us no regret for all of the hardships that we have gone through on His behalf. He is more than worth it.

Grace be with you as you continue forward on the path that God has stretched out before you.

Your fellow child of the Most High King of Glory,

Jadon

June 19th Bible Reading: Matthew Chapters 8-10

While reading through these chapters I was really struck by verses 18-22 in chapter 8. The cost of following Christ and being a Christian has been a reoccurring theme in a lot of my discussions with my friends.

"Christianity is free, but it costs you your life"

Here is a wonderful poem that was recently shared with me:

When I Became a Christian

by Adrian Plass

When I became a Christian I said, Lord, now fill me in,
Tell me what I’ll suffer in this world of shame and sin.
He said your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink;
Do you still want to follow Me? I said, Amen! – I think.
I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say Amen;
I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say my body may be killed and left to rot and stink,
Well, yes, that sounds terrific, Lord, I say Amen – I think.

But, Lord, there must be other ways to follow you, I said,
I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed.
Well, yes, He said, you could put up with sneers and scorn and spit,
Do you still want to follow Me? I said, Amen! – A bit.
A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,
I’m not completely sure, can you just run through that again?
You say I could put up with sneers, and also scorn and spit,
Well, yes, I’ve made my mind up, and I say Amen! – A bit.

Well I sat back and thought a while, then tried a different ploy,
Now, Lord, I said, the Good Book says that Christians live in joy.
That’s true, He said, you need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,
So do you still want to follow Me? I said, Amen! – Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, Lord, I’ll say it then, that’s when I’ll say Amen,
I need to get it clear, can I just run through that again?
You said I will need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,
Well, yes, I think I’ve got it straight, I’ll say, Amen – tomorrow.

He said, Look, I’m not asking you to spend an hour with Me,
A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of sanctity,
The cost is you, not half of you, but every single bit.
Now tell me, will you follow Me? I said, Amen! – I quit.
I’m very sorry, Lord, I said, I’d like to follow you,
But I don’t think religion is a manly thing to do.
He said, forget religion then, and think about my Son,
And tell me if you’re man enough to do what He has done.

Are you man enough to see the need, and man enough to go,
Man enough to care for those whom no one wants to know,
Man enough to say the thing that people hate to hear,
To battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear.
And listen! Are you man enough to stand it at the end,
The moment of betrayal by the kisses of a friend,
Are you man enough to hold your tongue, and man enough to cry,
When the nails break your body – are you man enough to die?
Man enough to take the pain, and wear it like a crown,
Man enough to love the world and turn it upside down,
Are you man enough to follow Me, I ask you once again.
I said, oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also said Amen.

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen.
I said, oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also said Amen.

June 17th Bible Reading: Matt. 1-4

My praises lift to the Most High in thanksgiving for all that are joining us in our summer Bible reading. I pray that God bless you as you meditate on His Holy Word, and that He would refresh you and use this reading to equip you for all that He has set beforehand for you to do. Please, Please, Please, feel free to use this blog as an opportunity to share what God has been teaching you, because God uses our simple, ordinary words in life changing ways! 

Mondays reading was Matthew, chapters 1-4. 

Summer New Testament Bible Reading Plan

Dear Friends,

Here is a copy of the summer reading list. I would really encourage you and any of your friends to add this to what you are already reading and participate with us as we learn from the Holy Scriptures. Please take advantage of this blog, and post what God is revealing to you through the reading of His word so that you can bless other fellow followers of Christ. We will be officially starting June 17. God Bless! 

John 8:31b-32
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you Free.  

1. ␣Matthew 1-4 

2. ␣Matthew 5-7 

3. ␣Matthew 8-10 

4. ␣Matthew 11-13 

5. ␣Matthew 14-16 

6. ␣Matthew 17-19 

7. ␣Matthew 20-22 

8. ␣Matthew 23-25 

9. ␣Matthew 26-28 

10.␣Mark 1-3 

11.␣Mark 4-6 

12.␣Mark 7-9 

13.␣Mark 10-12 

14.␣Mark 13-16 

15.␣Luke 1-3 

16.␣Luke 4-6 

17.␣Luke 7-9 

18.␣Luke 10-12 

19.␣Luke 13-15 

20.␣Luke 16-18 

21.␣Luke 19-21 

22.␣Luke 22-24

23.␣John 1-3 

24.␣John 4-6 

25.␣John 7-9 

26.␣John 10-12 

27.␣John 13-16 

28.␣John 17-18 

29.␣John 19-21 

30.␣Acts 1-3 

31.␣Acts 4-6 

32.␣Acts 7-9 

33.␣Acts 10-12 

34.␣Acts 13-15 

35.␣Acts 16-18 

36.␣Acts 19-21:36 

37.␣Acts 21:37-25:22 

38.␣Acts 25:23-28 

39.␣Romans 1-3 

40.␣Romans 4-6

41. ␣ Romans7-8 

42.␣Romans 9-11 

43.␣Romans 12-13 

44.␣Romans 14-16 

45.␣1 Corinthians 1-4

46.␣1 Corinthians 5-7 

47.␣1 Corinthians 8-11 

48.␣1 Corinthians 12-14 

49.␣1 Corinthians 15-16 

50.␣2 Corinthians 1-3 

51.␣2 Corinthians 4-6 

52.␣2 Corinthians 7-9 

53.␣2 Corinthians 10-13 

54.␣Galatians 1-2 

55.␣Galatians 3-4 

56.␣Galatians 5-6 

57.␣Ephesians 1-3 

58.␣Ephesians 4-6 

59.␣Philippians 1-2 

60.␣Philippians 3-4 

61.␣Colossians 1-2 

62.␣Colossians 3-4 

63.␣1 Thessalonians 1-3 

64.␣1 Thessalonians 4-5 

65.␣2 Thessalonians 1-3 

66.␣1 Timothy 1-3

67.␣1 Timothy 4-6 

68.␣2 Timothy 1-4 

69.␣Titus 1-3 2

70. ␣Philemon 

71.␣Hebrews 1-2

72.␣Hebrews 3-4:13 

73.␣Hebrews 4:14-7 

74.␣Hebrews 8-10 

75.␣Hebrews 11-13 

76.␣James 1-3:12 

77.␣James 3:13-5 

78.␣1 Peter 1-3:7 

79.␣1 Peter 3:8-5 

80.␣2 Peter

81.␣1 John 1-3:10 

82.␣1 John 3-11-5 

83.␣2 John; 3 John; Jude 

84.␣Revelation 1-3 

85.␣Revelations 4-6 

86.␣Revelations 7-9 

87.␣Revelation 10-12 

88.␣Revelations 13-15

89.␣Revelation 16-18

90. ␣Revelation 19-22 

Vous Êtes Ma Force

Vous Êtes Ma Force
You Are My Strength

Psalm 18:1
I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength.

Psalm 59:9
O my Strength, I will watch for You,
For You, O God, are my fortress.

2 Samuel 22:33
God is my strength and power:
and He maketh my way perfect.

What does it mean to surrender control? Are we able to give up command over ourselves?
Think about if you were unable to move your body on your own accord, but that someone else had a remote control that was able to move you. How would you feel about that?

So, I ask you, have we actually given God complete control of our lives?
We say, "I surrender all," but do we really give up the reins all together?

For in truth, when you speak to God and declare what these previous verses say, you’re essentially saying, “Here’s control over me, move me where You wish.”

Is that true in our lives, though? For when you say, “God is my strength,” you say are saying that He is in control. And that without Him and His strength, you cannot survive.

In say, “God is my strength,” you are giving up your self. All your choices, decisions, thoughts, actions, you’re giving all of that to God and declaring that it’s His and for Him to use.

So, I beseech you, friends! In everyday, seek that you, through God, would be able to further give yourself up to Christ and allow Him to truly become your strength. 

Ressurect These Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

These verses in a song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWpvknKuYrg