All in for "60 Minutes"

 21"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.


 22"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved


Matthew 10:21-22


In football, they use the term "60 minutes" to stress the importance of doing your best throughout the game.  There's no point throughout the game where you relax and do 50% or even 99%... every moment is done with excellence, your best team effort.  Jesus is encouraging us to do our best, no matter what, to the very end.  This passage tells us that even our family will be torn apart.  What, our families will be torn apart?!  Yes!  Not because God wants it to happen but because our obedience will turn us against the world and those who are still in it.  Jesus is remind us that it'll be hard but it's for a much higher purpose; it's because the world hates Him and everything and everyone that stands with Him.  


As I reflect on my own walk and how I'm living for Him I know I'm not doing 100%... sad reality is I don't know if I'm even doing 50%.  I feel I'm slightly better than I was a year ago, or maybe a few months ago... but I'm still not where I need to be.  When I think about first being saved... wow, that was a time when I was on fire and my heart, soul, mind & body was all in for Jesus!  When I was serving in Sri Lanka... that was on fire for Jesus!  But now... where is that passion?  Where is that desire that fueled my every waking moment?  I don't think it's gone but I do know I let distractions fall back on my priority list.  


Some of the ways I know I can live an all-out life for Jesus is to continue doing my devotions.  Just in the last month or so of getting back on track with all my devos I've felt stronger in my faith.  I've been attacked but my offensive weapon, the word of God, sustained me.  Because of this, it allowed me to witness more effectively.  So what's next?  My flesh wants to do this and that but what I need to understand is to sit still on this season and fall back in love with Jesus.  I need to draw on that same passion as in the beginning to fuel me in this fallen world.  Word and Worship... what a wonderful season!


Father God, thank You for delivering Your timely messages.  I sit on Your word, not to be lazy, but to kindle that fire that will bless Your heart.  Help me appreciate Your goodness, Your kindness, Your compassion again and again.  In the faithful name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!