"FOR MY SAKE!"

Matthew 10:34-39                    (ESV)

"34 "DO NOT THINK THAT I HAVE COME TO BRING PEACE to the earth. I HAVE NOT come to bring peace, BUT A SWORD.

35 For I have come to set a man AGAINST  his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.

37 Whoever loves father or mother more than ME is not worthy of ME, and whoever loves son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of ME.

38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow ME is not worthy of ME.

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life "FOR MY SAKE" will find it."

Spending time on the Gulf Of Mexico coastline a few years back was one of the most Spiritually maturing events of my lifetime.  Sure, I was "on the beach" for Sunday Services (just me and GOD) and not in a "temple", but hearing from GOD that morning through some seagulls that were flying around was quite honestly the most serene and deliberate Spiritual moments I can remember.   

However, without a doubt, one of the most annoying things ever experienced is beach Sand getting on your blanket/spread at he beach.  The Sand can become so irritating that it occasionally requires the blanket/spread to be lifted up and shaken clean to relieve the effects of "this world" from being around us.  Unless this is done, you will continually be annoyed by the beach Sand and its intrusive nature!

Living a Christ-Centered life is essentially the same.  Unless we continually lift ourselves up and clear the effects of "this world" from our lives, we will have more Sand and beach surrounding us, making our lives miserable from the effects.  Until we are willing to give up EVERYTHING that we hold dear; our families, earthly possessions, earthly security (IRA's & CD's), we will not be ready to be used by HIM and for HIS Plan!  CHRIST alone is more than capable of providing those needs for us, but we have to be willing to ACCEPT HIS Plan and not rely on our pre-conceived ideas for what WE THINK our future should hold.  

It is awfully easy to get our focus onto "earthly things" that appear to make "our lives" simpler, easier, more enjoyable, while we are supposed to be here serving HIM!  But if our target is serving HIM, why then should we try to avoid "weaknesses" (2 Corinthians 13:9)?   When I go through things that ONLY HE could have brought me through, why is it so astounding to those observing?   My ONLY purpose is to live my life "FOR MY (JESUS') SAKE" and to draw honor and glory to HIS Name!  Some will understand!!!