Jesus said the Greatest Commandment is to love the Lord our God with our heart soul mind and strength. Ok. This seems normal enough. Lots of people love something with their heart, soul mind and strength.
Think of athletes, CEOs, Pastors who are at the top of their industry. They are known for their dedication to all facets of their business, a superior knowledge of their business, and a singular devotion to their work.
Along the way as they had to give up habits, activities, perspectives and even people who hindered their work. Famous athletes like Tom Brady, Michael Jordan and Derek Jeter show us the result of removing obstacles to their craft. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Bank, Elon Musk from Tesla and Michael Dell are CEOs who gave a singular devotion to their craft to be at the top.
In regards of you loving God with your heart, soul, mind and strength what do you need to give up? What habit, person, perspective is inhibiting your growth?
Jesus is calling us to let go of everything to gain heaven to be with the Father. You aren’t taking anything with you and Jesus says He’s the way to the Father. Plus the more you let go the more your affections and devotion to Christ increase.
See this is the only way. Removing all items that hinder and interfere with your devotion to God. It’s not an option. It’s the plan.
Read Phil 3:7-14
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain[a] to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The Apostle Paul sets the standard for converted sinners. Forgetting what is behind and pressing forward to the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
So today what is blocking you from praying more each day? Reading the Bible more each day? Getting engaged in the Great Commission?
Write down the items that block you. Take immediate action to remove them so you can grow. Continue this pattern until you are called home.
Views from an Evangelist 