WordFilled Wednesdays ~ Luke 14:33

Have you ever done a Bible study that just feels like friction on your soul? This past week of Blackaby's Experiencing God has been just that for me. My husband says it is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I'm sure the Spirit is at work. My Bible study group says it is because Blackaby is a man whose examples come from just one perspective, while those of us reading it are in an entirely different set of circumstances.

I've started week eight this morning with the attitude that both are correct, but that it is my responsibility to yield to God and allow Him to teach me through this study by focusing on the Scripture and refusing to allow my attitude to sabotage the lesson at hand. That being said, the memory verse for this week can stand alone, regardless of Blackaby's insightful and challenging points, like

"Everything had (of the Biblical examples) to be yielded to God and the entire life adjusted to Him....You will have to make major adjusts in your life to follow God....Until you are ready to make any adjustment necessary to follow and obey what God has said, you will be of little use to God." p. 128

These are hard concepts to grapple with as we evaluate our faith. This verse from Luke takes it even further, beckoning the question, "What, my dear Elisa, are you not willing to give up in order to be a disciple of Christ?" Asking, as well, "Is there something more important in your life than serving Jesus with all that you have and all that you are?"

In a way, these questions may be hard to find the answers to, especially if we already identify ourselves as Christians--as followers of Christ--and feel we are living wholly for Him. But the reality is, by our mouths we may be followers, yet by our actions we may be chasing after another God all together.

It is so much easier to see it in someone else's life. I have a friend that knows she ought to not _____ because God's word clearly says it is wrong. He point blank says over and over again in Scriptures, "Do not _____." Although she calls herself a Christian (and I believe she is!), and admits that we should obey God, she has decided on a few occasions that doing _____ just a little bit isn't so bad. Ultimately, I shared with her, that she is deciding that God doesn't really need to be in charge of her in this area of her life, and she'll just do what she wants to do instead. She is being her own God...she is following after something else, entirely opposite than Jesus, in that moment.

While this is a story about a friend, couldn't this be true about each one of us? The _____ can be filled in with all sorts of things: white lies, taking from our employer, gluttony, greed, drunkenness, addictions of any kind, lust, how we spend our money, how we use our time. The list goes on and on. When we choose something counter to what God says we ought to, we are, in essence, following after that and not being a disciple of Christ. We have not given up everything -- everything that feels good or bad, brings comfort or pain, seems just a little bit okay or terribly wrong -- in order for our faith to bring action and action obedience reflective of our life as a disciple of Christ.

What do we do when we realize we've forsaken our call to follow Christ? We repent. We ask for forgiveness, and we yield to Christ's authority in our lives. But it won't be a one time deal, will it?! There will be constant temptation to follow after something seemingly more alluring. Yet, if we can stay focused on the Lord in this way, imagine what God will do through us. Blackaby says it well,

"No one can sum up all God is able to accomplish through one solitary life, wholly yielded, adjusted, and obedient to Him!" p. 129

Heavenly Father, cause us to desire you most of all. Lord, impress on our hearts how our lives lack the action and obedience unto you, that we may be convicted by the Holy Spirit and yielded to you 100%! In Jesus' Name, Amen!

What areas do you need to yield to the Lord in? How can we encourage you or pray for you? I need to yield in the area of trusting God with all that is on my plate -- following His plans for my day instead of trying to work it all out myself. I covet your prayers in this way.

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