by David Brenneman
"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will." Hebrews 2:1-4.
Playing hooky. Skipping classes, skipping school. Getting someone else to do their class work. Cheating on the due time that a required subject demands. That's what those things boil down to.
My Dear Reader...do you do this with Jesus? With the Spirit? With our Father who is in Heaven?
Rather than having your nose in your Bible is it in anything but that?
Do you eagerly desire to spend time on any other subject than what the Spirit is desiring to teach you?
Are you staring out the window of your heart looking at anything and everything else rather than paying attention in class?
Are you by chance the class clown in whatever the Spirit is teaching and you're not at all taking Him seriously?
This will reflect on your final grade.
This WILL reflect on your final exams.
This WILL reflect poorly on you when you stand before Jesus.
The enemy of God wants to entice you to stir up any and every single thing to draw your interests away from the plans that God has prepared for you. So many billions of people in this world have no clue of how they're truly behaving before the Holy God of all Creation.
When you and I, for I'm just as guilty, mindlessly do anything apart from Jesus we are wasting what time in our classes that we might have had.
What efforts do you intentionally make to pay attention to what the Spirit wants to impart to you in order to live your life to the full for Jesus?
Last night I had a lengthy time in those 4 Study Bibles. Then an unexpectedly wonderful thing happened late last night afterwards. A wonderful time of worship. I found one after the other of praise and worship videos of songs that I knew and just sat here singing along praying them back to Jesus. I was so into these that I tagged them with comments on Facebook.
We cannot afford to be not paying attention when the Spirit's job is to teach us. The time we have isn't on our side. Every single person is given a God directed amount of time on this Earth...to be used wisely.
We are intentional about going about our physical day...why aren't we as intentional about our Spiritual day?
Which strong Believer ever stated that they regretted spending so much time away from the world and with Jesus?
Jesus has plans for each and every single Believer but obedience is the crucial key to unlocking it. Plans we will never know if we don't pay attention in class and stay focused on the Teacher.
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10.
"Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." 1 Corinthians 3:12-15.
Then there is: "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.” So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God." 1 Corinthians 3:18-23.
Do relish the heat of the stare of anyone upon yourself? When caught in something you shouldn't have been doing do you look forward to the scrutiny of the interrogation process?
When you're busted and now must face the consequences how does that really make you feel?
This walking with Jesus is serious business! Jesus wasn't saying what it would cost us for His health!
“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. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6. This isn't a "golden rule" suggestion either.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." Matthew 16:24-27.
Will you really look at your behavior in the school of theology that is taught by the Spirit in your life?
If your performance, your engagement, your attention to detail were graded today what would your honest assessment be?
If you were among the 12 disciples would you drop whatever has your attention to pay attention to Jesus or would you be among the 70 who left Jesus because "this is too hard..."?
Last night was wonderful. Things like that don't just happen by accident they happen by intentionality of purpose.
Those who score high in school get there only by intentionally paying attention and putting their all into learning.
Mediocre efforts will never yield a worthy crown of righteousness to give back to Jesus for what He's done for us.
Can you say these words truly apply to your thoughts, feelings and heart towards Jesus?
All in All by Dennis Jernigan
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Taking my sin my cross my shame
Rising again I bless your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down you pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Worthy is Your name
Worthy is Your name
The choices you make with regards to the time and opportunities before you to either invest in your classes with the Spirit or the world are going to either bring joy or shame to you when you stand before Jesus.
Class is in session...
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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