Undivided

Undivided 

by David Brenneman 

Our lives are not our own. We were bought with a price. 

It always is amazing to me, and I honestly pray that it never ceases to, see the Spirit connect Scripture after Scripture when He begins to formulate a thought to write about. 

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB 

"Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 NASB 

"who will repay each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation." Romans 2:6-8 NASB 

"Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NASB 

So many millions of people who possibly attend some church, somewhere, have some seriously wrong ideas about living the Christian life. 

It's taken years, sadly, for me to even get to where I am today.  I have a different take on thinking on the statement of "I can only imagine".   Oh what my life might have been like had I learned much earlier in life of how to better walk with Jesus. 

Undivided...attention.   Read way back with the people of Israel who were so easily distracted by shiny things.  By what other countries had that looked better than what they had in their relationship with Jesus as Lord of them.  Think about that!  

Just like them, so it is with us. We are to no longer live as the world lives, in the futility of their minds.  Following empty and vain things and thinking. 

Pursuing things that absolutely do not matter in light of eternity. 

Jesus is returning soon.  The final exam is coming.   What will your deeds done in your life show in regards to how well you lived for Jesus?

How well did you follow Him as He said to?

How well did you walk by the Spirit and thus not fulfill the desires of the flesh?

How well did you show the world that you even had a relationship with Jesus?

How important was it to you to have read your Bible all the way through even once?

How important indeed!  That single thought brought me great conviction.  How was I to stand before Jesus and confess that He's my Savior and at the same time admit that I never read the love letter that He left me?  Today I can't tell you how many times I have read it through.  If you have both the quiet place and time, LISTEN through it.  Watch it come alive in your mind unlike any movie you've ever seen.  Ever see a movie and it's like you are standing in the scene, seeing it unfold before you?  

Undivided...in Christ.  Jesus is God, the Spirit He left us is God.  The Father who awaits us is God.  

When people look at you, at what you occupy your life with...do they see a relationship with Jesus or with other things?  If you post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. what do people see there?  Are you leaving out your relationship with Jesus?  Why?  Are you only promoting your company?  Why? 

Are you only promoting everything else but your relationship with Jesus?  

Are you more interested in your reputation than your relationship with Jesus?  

Do you realize that when we read that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them...it means that the Spirit has free reign to remove and replace whatever ought not be there, from thoughts and intentions to physical things...anything and everything you value above a right relationship with Jesus?

It's interesting that so many Christians think that after coming to Christ it means health, wealth and prosperity.  That we will get our own little kingdom here on Earth. 

Jesus said point-blank that those who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer.  Paul wrote that we are at war in this life.  We battle not against flesh and blood.  We are in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  We come to Christ we switch sides.  We are not to live as the world does. 

Undivided means all of you...lives for all of Him. 

Are you wasting your time, energy and money on all that you have and desire, rather that furthering God’s plan for you in Christ and God's plan for mankind, the seeking the lost in this world?

Is all of you...intent on the one purpose of living for all of Jesus?  

What needs to go?  Don't say nothing.  My Dear Reader, that's a blanket invitation to the Spirit to start a full-on renovation of your life.  It often begins with a "Oh really...".

Yes this life has within it elements to enjoy that God created, but stay on task.  Jesus in His ministry stayed on task. He would let nothing and nobody take Him away from the Father’s plan.  His final words?  "Go, make Disciples, teaching them to do all that I commanded."  Go and do. 

Will you receive a "Well done!" from Jesus or maybe a "Well...you made it..."?  

Our works will be tested by the fire of His truth.  Everything will be burned away that wasn't done in the body for Jesus.  Every thought or intention that we thought might be right and true will be tested. Every selfish thing turned to ashes.  Every selfish thought...ashes. 

Is your heart undivided?  If it isn't my Dear Reader...do something about it today.