Gravity

Matthew 10:37-39 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

I had on my monitor at work a reminder at one time of my top five priorities: My Savior, my wife, my boys, my business, and me. The order had varied greatly in life, but it served to remind me of what my life’s priorities should revolve around. Just like anyone, I failed and put higher priority on many of them, and sadly work seemed to become number one too many times. I am truly burned out at work, having to re-prioritize it again due to many circumstances. Only business owners understand the weight of responsibility, of the care of your employees, of the sleepless nights because it all rests upon your shoulders. No employee will ever show that drive such as yourself for the care of the company’s well being. When I look at our business model, that of a bold witness and ministry, it becomes clearer why my struggles are seemingly greater, because I go against the world’s standard.

Jesus had just sent his disciples out on their own. He had just told them of how to conduct their ministry, given them power to do so, and commanded them to go out on faith greater than they had ever been asked to or tried. Can you imagine your employer being Christ, and being asked to accomplish tasks by him that you could not imagine doing? Could you imagine being told how difficult this was going to be, yet being encouraged that you could do it, even what to say? 18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Jesus told them of how they were going to divide people, anger people, and the treatment that was going to come on them would be harsh, but he told them to have faith and continue to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do we put that same faith into action today? Do we boldly proclaim our faith to those God puts in our paths every day? Do we proclaim the need for repentance, turning from our ways to the saving faith in Christ alone? Do we let them know religion’s obligations do not save, they kill? Do they know us by our works, or do they know they want nothing of Christianity by our deeds they witness 6.5 days a week? Are you living for Christ, even when times get tough? Are you prioritizing him above your family, your career, your own ambitions? Are you willing to suffer for your faith, or do you keep moving around looking for the soft gospels that proclaim what God can do for you? The inner peace that comes to the disciple of Jesus Christ, the power that rests upon them, is the focus of life that drives them through the storms. The lack of the fear of death to the disciple is the inner strength that sustains, the foundation of faith that centers when the world knocks off course. That gravity re-aligns one’s self to only hearing His words when he calls them home, “Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”