Is Love Enough?

Luke 10:25-28 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (26) He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? (27) And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. (28) And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 

When it comes to marriage, the question often comes up:  Is love enough?  I think it is a fair question but often the false answer that I hear experts give is based upon a faulty premise and frankly a bad understanding of the word “LOVE”.  The question stems from people that claim they love each other, but they have other issues, problems and difficulties that are driving them apart.  Because of that, many people propose the concept that love isn’t enough.  The problem is, they are using a perverted, distorted and worldly perspective of “love”.  Love is much more than a positive or favorable view a another.  Love is far more than sexual attraction or chemistry.  Let’s look at the Bible’s view of Love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, (5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; (6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; (7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (8) Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

When we look at the way that Hollywood and the world as a whole portrays Love, it is the exact opposite of what Biblical love is.  If we use a Hollywood-esque view of love when it comes to marriage, it will not be enough to hold a marriage together.  However, if we pattern our love after the description the Bible gives, then the answer is yes.  Love is enough....Because Love never fails!

Some may be asking by now:  What does this have to do with our passage today?

Because we are talking about loving God, and so many people have brought over that same perverted, distorted and worldly perspective of love and tried to apply it to God.  If we love God as the world endorses, then loving God is not enough to please him.  However, if we love God as he desires, instructs and patterns... then most certainly love is enough to please him.

Jesus was asked:  How do we inherit eternal life?  And the answer that was given was that we MUST Love God with all your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind.  But notice, just by the manner the answer was given, the answer conveys the Love mentioned cannot be referring to just a favorable view of God.   So many people act as if they just wear a cross around their neck or the sing the hymn in worship “Oh How I Love Jesus” that it is settled...They love Jesus.  But that is not Biblical Love.  That is worldly love!

Instead, Jesus is very specific.  Love performed in a pleasing manner MUST be done with our ALL.  All of our heart.  All of our Soul.  All of our strength and All of our mind.  By its very nature, it cannot be casual.  It cannot be with whatever is left over.

Not only that, when we follow the pattern of God, we will learn that true Love is ACTIVE.  Notice HIS example.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

God so loved...That he GAVE!  So why do we think that Love on our part means that we don’t have to give?  Instead, many people think that to love God means only to take.  I love God so I will take forgiveness of sins.  I love God so I will take a relationship with God.  I love God so I will take eternity in Heaven.  God because he loves us wants us to have those things, but are not just to be takers.  To Love God in return, we must also be givers as he is a giver.

Lastly, to love God as he has instructed, we must be obedient.

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

The implication that Jesus makes is that we are to keep all of his commandments!  That means it is not up to us.  He has not left it for our discreation.   Love means that we will do what our father wants because we love him.

When we love him in the fashion that he has directed...Love will be enough.

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

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Are You a Worker?

Luke 10:2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. 

To be a Christian, in the truest sense, is to have the mind, characteristics, behaviors and actions of Jesus.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

In our passage today we see the mind of Jesus.  Jesus came to this world to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).  So if we truly have the mind of Jesus, we too should relate to and have “Lost Seeking” as our mission as well.  We should comprehend the enormous gift that he has given to us by for forgiving us of our sins.  And that in turn allow that gratitude to provoke us to desire to follow after his footsteps.

To do that we must be laborers in his kingdom.  Not just have our name on the roles.  Not just be named as a follower.  Not just be a spectator, but rather be a real, genuine worker.  

Something that has both humored me and frustrated me is to drive by a road construction crew, where one guy is working diligently and another 10 are leaning on their shovels.  The obvious questions that come to mind is:  How much quicker could this road project be concluded if everyone worked as hard as the one guy?  How much cheaper could that project have been if they all were working hard?

That thought brings us to the real question:  What does God see when he looks down on his church today?  Does he see one worker for every 10 people leaning on their Bibles?  What could we accomplish if we all worked like the one?  How many people could be spared from the eternal punishment of hell if we all worked a little more diligently?

The important question now is:  Are you the worker or the leaner?  If you are a leaner, get off your Bible and put it to work!

Reflecting the SON,  

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

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Christianity Isn’t a Social Club!

Luke 9:57-62 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (58) And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. (61) And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. (62) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 

If you are like me, you have probably been a part of groups in the past with which you have identified in some way, but to which you were not enthusiastically committed.  You may have joined, maybe even paid some sort of dues, and attended a handful of meetings, and that was about the entirety of the association.  There are many groups, clubs and associations that are perfectly fine with this kind of membership.  One such groups that many people treat this way, especially this time of year are athletic gyms.  People, at the beginning of the new year, want to get into shape and so they will join a gym, pay the dues and then go ones or twice and never go back.  They gym is perfectly content to have such people as “members” as long as you pay those annual dues. 

Along this same concept, many religious groups have this exact same mindset.  You can come as little as you choose.  You can drop a dollar or two in the collection plate when it’s passed, and they are content to keep you on their membership roles.  Often times, those kinds of religious groups are glad just to be able to boast large membership numbers to give the appearance that they are significant.  But they are not doing anyone any favors.

Christianity isn’t a social club!  Jesus sees things differently!

Jesus isn’t satisfied with people CLAIMING to be followers!  Jesus isn’t interested in just boosting his “numbers”.  Jesus isn’t looking for casual attendees.  He does not want or need part-timers nor “one-and-doners”.  He has no patients for those that just make excuses.

Jesus is looking for Followers!

So many religious groups paint a false description of Jesus as someone that will just take anyone that will make a casual claim of loyalty and allegiance.  But nothing could be farther from the truth!  Notice what Jesus says in verse 62.

Luke 9:62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Not fit for the Kingdom!  That is Jesus’ words...not mine!  Who is not fit for the kingdom?   Those that put their hand to the plow and then looks back.  He didn’t just say those that put the hand to the plow and then quits, but those that even looks back!  The New Testement and Jesus teachings from his own mouth support this concept.  Here are just a few.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

Matthew 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 

Matthew 7:13- Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

The world, and even modern day religion may try to convince us that we can do this thing called Christianity like a social club:  just giving what ever minor effort that we like or whatever is left over from our other activities.  But Jesus sees it otherwise.  The question then is:  Are you a true follower of Jesus or do you just have your name on a list?  Are your a servant or a spectator?  Are you truly loyal to him or do you just make the claim?  You can fool your preacher or other church leaders, but you cannot fool God!

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

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Jesus Came to Save Men!

Luke 9:51-56 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, (52) And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. (53) And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. (54) And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? (55) But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. (56) For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. 

We all want second chances.  We all need second chances.  Even those who strive diligently to please our God will disappoint him time after time.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

I think that really is the message of our passage today.  In verse 51, our text tells us that Jesus is determined to go to Jerusalem as time approached for his death.  To prepare for his arrival, Jesus sent messengers ahead.  The messengers came to a Samaritan village where they were not open to Jesus’ coming.  When word got back to Jesus, two of his disciples, James and John had a very human reaction.  They said “Why don’t we call for fire to rain down on them and consume them?”

As humans, we can be vindictive.  Even if it is a just or righteous position.  That is certainly the case here.  James and John were wanting to destroy these people because they have rejected Jesus.  But notice Jesus’ response.

Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them....

It is not Jesus’ goal to destroy anyone.  Instead, his entire mission was to seek and to save that which is lost.  All of us deserve to be destroyed for the sin in our lives, but God is a God of second chances.  He wants us to have the opportunity to learn the truth, come to a knowledge of his will and to submit to it.  For that reason, he is not quick to punish or destroy.  

Even though he desires for all men to be saved and he is a God of second chances, does not mean that he will fail to punish in the end.  On the contrary.  The Bible is full of warnings that in the end, if we have not submitted ourselves to his will, there is a fate of punishment waiting for us.  But it is our choice at this point.  Do not rely on his mercy to give you additional chances by putting off the decision to follow him.  Be thankful that you have this moment.  Be thankful that he has not already punished us.  Make the decision today to accept his grace, mercy and loving kindness by setting aside our selfish will and live by his will.  Do it today.  You are not guaranteed another day.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

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Oh To Be the Greatest!

Luke 9:46-48 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. (47) And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, (48) And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. 

Greatness is a quality for which most humans strive in some aspects of their lives.  So much so, that at times, we do not even care at which we are considered “Great”, as long as we can call ourselves Great.  To prove that point, just take a glance at the Guinness Book of World Records.  Most of the “accomplishments” listed therein are just plain silly, but someone set it as a goal, strove, practiced and eventually beat the old record to get their names in that book of records....all for  the sake of being “Great”.

God, however, sees greatness in a wholly different way that we do as humans.  God wants us to achieve greatness, but not for the longest fingernails or the length of time we hop on one foot.  He wants us to be great by his standard!

In our text today, we see humans being human.  When you get a group of twelve men together and have no authoritative or predetermined hierarchy, you will have inner squabbling to determine who deserves to be the leader.  Leadership isn’t just desired because we as humans want the responsibility of leadership.  We want to be leaders because, by worldly standards, the leader is perceived to be the greatest.  The problem with this kind of “reasoning” is that we will determine our own standard that assuredly makes ourselves out to be the best.  We can see a humorous example of this in a cell phone commercial that is currently running on TV.  A family is trying to determine who should get the most data minutes.  The father says that the oldest should get the most minutes (because that narrowly helps him).  One person says, whomever has the most braces on their teeth.  One says whomever has the least hair.  And so on. 

We tend to view greatness in the same way.  Can you imagine the debate that those twelve men had to help make their individual case to be the leader after Jesus was gone?  “Well I was the first apostle picked”!  “Well our parents knew each other as kids”!  “We we are from the same Jewish tribe” And on and on.  But none of those superficial, arguments have anything to do with greatness.

After a while, Jesus stepped in to the conversation to insert some real facts into the debate.  What does God see as great?  Jesus says that to be great in God’s eyes is to be the best servant!  To be the LEAST as the world sees it.  It is not a human trait to be the bottom of the totem pole...to serve quietly.  To give instead of receive.  To be happy and not complain in the face of adversity.  To put others first and ourselves last.  That is what Jesus did!  If we want to be great, we must be as much like Jesus as we possibly can.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

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Jesus...The New Covenant Not the Old!

Luke 9:28-36 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. (29) And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. (30) And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: (31) Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (32) But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. (33) And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. (34) While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. (35) And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. (36) And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. 

In our text today, we find Luke’s account of the Transfiguration of Jesus.  In this event, Jesus is seen by Peter, James and John speaking with Moses and Elijah. What a monumental occasion this must have been for these three men.  Moses is certainly known and revered by anyone that is a Jew due to the great leadership that he demonstrated and the enormous trust that God put in him by making him the great law giver.  We don’t call it the Mosaic Law for nothing!  And then Elijah was the great prophet of the Old Testament.  The one that had the faith and courage to take on King Ahab of Israel and the 850 prophets of Baal single-handedly on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18.  These to men, to devout Jews were more than heroes.  They embodied the essence of the kind of men that God wanted as servants.

Without looking at verse 31 in our text, what would you imagine that Jesus would have to talk to Moses about?  From a human perspective, I would think that if I that opportunity that Jesus had I would want to know all I could about what it was like to take on Pharaoh or to take on King Ahab.  I would want to know what it was like to be them.

But here is the whole point of this event.  They did not talk about the past.  They did not talk about Moses or Elijah. They did not talk about being a Jew or Israelite. They talked about the present and future for Jesus.  The three of them discussed the impending death of Jesus on the cross.  So many religious folks today want to look to the Old Testement for guidance and doctrine, but even the Old Testement pointed to the future of Jesus!

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 

Let us, like Moses and Elijah, keep our eyes on the cross of Christ.  May we truly understand the enormous sacrifice that God made for us and strive to live in a manner that demonstrates our gratitude for what he has done for us.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

What Is the Kingdom of God?

Luke 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. 

What is the kingdom of God?  That is a hotly debated question in the religious world.  This kingdom was prophisied repeatedly in the Old Testament like Daniel 2,    The two most common answers are:

1.  The Kingdom is a futuristic earthly kingdom in which Jesus will once again rule from the throne of David.

2.  The Kingdom is the Church which Jesus rules over presently.

I fall into the camp of option two...primarily because of our passage today.  Jesus said that there were people standing in the crowd, listening to him that would be alive when the kingdom came into existence.  That brings only one of two conclusions:

1.  If the kingdom is still yet in our future, there are people walking the earth today that are well over 2,000 years old.

2.  The kingdom that Jesus is speaking of was established within the lifetime of those present and continues to be in existence today!

Acts 1:4-8 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

In verse 6, the disciples asked about when he would establish his kingdom.  His answer was to go to Jerusalem and do not leave until the promise was fulfilled.  In chapter 2 of the Book of Acts we find where this promise was fulfilled. 

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Are You Ashamed of God?

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. 

I can remember being a teenager and not always seeing eye to eye with my parents. In fact, from the perspective of a “young adult” my parents were just plain wrong at times and it was hard to promote my parents decrees as if I agreed with them.  In other words, at times, I was ASHAMED of my parent’s rules and restrictions.  I was ASHAMED that they would not let me go to parties that we all knew had drinking and other “seedy”activities.  I was ASHAMED that my parents restricted me on whom I could date, because they wanted me to marry a Christian woman that would help me be a better Christian!

Please make sure you understand this distinction.  There is a significant difference between not completely understanding and/or completely agreeing with a particular command and being ashamed of it.  There are many commands of God that I do not understand the “whys” of.  There are even some ordinances in place that I do not necessarily agree with.  But because of my love for my Father and Savior...because I want to please my God....because of what he has done for me, I will keep them and defend them to the death.

On the other hand, if one is ashamed of a command, two separated things usually takes place. First, they will simply disobey it.   In all honesty, however, their disobedience is not simple at all. It is carefully thought about and the law completely disregarded as having NO legitimacy.  But secondly, those ashamed of God’s commands also will generally ridicule and mock those commands.  They will declare them as being out of touch, out of date, short sighted, narrow minded, old fashioned, or just plain restricting fun and or happiness.  They are ASHAMED of those laws.

There are many commands in the Word of God that many so-called religious people are ashamed of.  This bog does not have the time or space to deal with them.  Just one example though to make my point.  Ever increasingly are religious people becoming ASHAMED of the Bible’s clear and unambiguous teaching against homosexuality.  However, the religious world is embracing that sinful behavior more and more all of the time.  They not only disobey it, they make fun of the religious folks that still support the Bible’s teachings.

Notice carefully how Jesus sees this now.  If you are ashamed of his words (i.e. his laws commandments and restrictions) you are ASHAMED of HIM!  Now notice what that actually means!

Luke 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Jesus will be ashamed of us.  Remember, there are only two paths.  Righteousness and Unrighteousness.  Pleasing or Ashamed.  Heaven or Hell.  The implication is obvious.  If  we are ashamed of him and his teachings, He will be ashamed of us when it counts the most....and we will be lost.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

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We Must Lose It!

Luke 9:24-25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (25) For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 

Christianity is full of oxymorons.  Concepts, that on the surface, seem contradictory but when truly understood, make perfect sense.  Concepts like, cleansed by blood.  

Our text today is an oxymoron.  The truth that Jesus is conveying to us seems contradictory on the surface, but it is not.  This passage really comes down to this question:  Would you rather live for instant gratification here and now or would you rather live for the what God has in store for us in the after life?  The truth is, that, for the most part, the two are mutually exclusive.

If you cherish, enjoy and want to protect the life that this WORLD has to offer, you can certainly save it.  You have the choice to take advantage of every pleasure that this world has to offer...from self glory, to riches, to sexual gratifications, to fame, to being a party animal.  The world is at your finger tips and there for your taking.  However, if that is your choice, if that is your focus, if that is your priority, if that is where you dedicate your life, you will be jeopardizing the glorious riches and joy and heavenly blessings that  our loving Father has prepared for us.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

On the other hand, if you are able to find a way to remove the grip that this world has on us, and be willing to live this present physical life in a manner specified by our master, then we are guaranteed a futuristic, heavenly life that is far better than anything this life has to offer.

If people were to be asked:  “Do you want to go to Heaven”, I think most people would answer in the affirmative.  If there is no effort needed...then why not.  So the question is:  What is so great about this life, that you are willing to trade your eternity for?  That is essentially the question that Jesus asks in verse 25.  So if you were able to have everything that this life has to offer, is that really a fair trade for giving up Heaven.  The answer is no.  The problem for us comes down to the difference between immediate and delayed gratification.  I assure you, there is nothing in this life worth trading your soul for.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.

Deny Thyself!

Happy New Year.  And may God Bless you and prosper you this year! 

As we begin this New Year, I cannot think of a better topic to begin with, than the one that we find ourselves on in our progression through the book of Luke.  This discussion largely comes down to priorities and focus.  Who are we going to focus on this year?  Are we going to selfishly make ourselves the center of our universe, or are we going to step out and make God the #1 priority in our lives.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 

There’s is a generally accepted saying:  “Anything worth having is worth working for.”  That principle is generally understood.  One place in our society that it doesn’t seem to be accepted is in religion.  For some reason, many believe that the benefits of religion should be had....just because.  But Jesus sees things differently.  

First of all, Jesus indicates that if we want the benefits that he has to offer, we must come after him.  The word “come” is a word of action.  That means that we cannot access his benefits by simply existing.  But that word also implies that we must walk in a SPECIFIED and DIRECTIONAL manner.  We cannot go our own way....in our own manner, but we must go to where Jesus is and in the manner that he commands.

Secondly, Jesus says that we must deny ourselves.  Jesus is telling us that if we want the benefits that he has to offer, we MUST make some sacrifices.  Our purpose in life must no longer be about fulfilling our own wishes and desires, those desires now must be converted into doing what our master wishes.  We must now realize that if we are to follow Jesus, it is no longer our own lives to do what we want.

1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

The significance of this concept cannot be overstated.  We do not belong to ourselves any longer, we belong to God.  Therefore since God is the owner, he must be the controller of our lives!

Lastly, Jesus states that we are to take up his cross.  In other words, we are to carry on the mission that he started.  He came to seek and to save those that are lost, and that must be our mission as well.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

If you have friends, family, or acquaintances that you feel could benefit from RTS, please forward 

their e-mail address to me and I will add them to my mail list.