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Today’s Devotional – October 10

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How Do I Become A Disciple of Jesus?

Jesus Calls Disciples – Wikimedia – US Public Domain

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Jesus is calling out to every man, woman, and child…

“go and sell that thou hast, 

and give to the poor,

and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:

and come and follow Me.”

Matthew 19:21

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This great call has been going out to the world for almost 2,000 years now!

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And through the ages, there have been many who have responded to this call!

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Upward Pathway Рby b̦hringer friedrich for Рcropped/altered image РWikimedia РShare-alike License

 

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SOMETHING’S MISSING HERE!

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But sadly, today’s churches are filled with many who faithfully attend church each week, giving tithes, kneeling for prayer, serving on committees and going through all the motions of being a Christian.

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And yet, there is something missing. There just doesn’t seem to be the presence of that Holy Fire!

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Oh yes, we may speak in tongues!

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We may do our 15-minute Bible study each morning!

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We may say our prayers!

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We may hand out religious tracts!

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Audience hands – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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WORLDLY THOUGHTS

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But our thoughts are just not on God.

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Because, as soon as we close our Bible in the morning, we quickly forget about God’s Word, and begin to fill our mind with all the cares and pleasures which the world floods upon us!

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And we go about our day, pursuing all the things that our selfish heart’s desire! Our careers, our hobbies, our favorite TV shows, our games, our curious books of science, or romance, or travel, or a vast array of other time-consuming, energy-sapping pursuits!

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Yes, we neglect His great commission for His people to purify our hearts and conform our lives into Christ’s glorious image!

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Shoppers in Toronto – cropped image – Wikimedia – share-alike license

 

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So what is the problem? Where have we gone astray?

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Question Marks – At a loss – svg – Wikimedia Commons – Share-Alike License

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“THEY FORSOOK ALL & FOLLOWED HIM”

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You see, in the Gospel of Luke, is found the account of Jesus calling Peter, John and James and Andrew.

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When Jesus called those disciples, it is written…“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11.

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Yes, those disciples totally forsook the pleasures and pursuits of the world, and followed Jesus. 

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ABOVE PICTURE – 7 Stars Constellation as the Cross (aka Big Dipper) – winter – signsofheaven.org – not for commercial uses

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FORSAKING ALL!

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Listen… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple!” Luke 14:33

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This incredible verse from Luke 14:33 reveals the reason why most churchgoers never truly become “Born Again”!

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We have never received the gift of Salvation that would have resulted in our making that total commitment: that “forsaking all”, which is required to follow Jesus as one of His disciples.

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Listen again…

“No man can serve two masters…

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Matthew 6:24 (condensed)

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Prayer – USMC – Wikimedia – US Govt. Public Domain

 

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TRADING EARTH FOR HEAVEN!

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And though we may retain our earthly possessions, nevertheless, our new heart can still sing out to all the world, that little praise song…

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“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of this world will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace!”

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Yes, as this song reveals, the more intently we focus our eyes upon Jesus, the more that the glittering trinkets of this world will lose their luster!

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And instead, the treasures of Heaven, the kindness, the patience, the meekness, the wisdom, the purity of heart, the faith, the joy, and the hopeful anticipation of the forever and soon-coming Promised Land, and the Agape Love of Jesus for all Mankind, will daily grow brighter and more precious to the Believer!

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Starry Night at La Silla – cropped and altered image – Wikimedia – Share-Alike license

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VICTORY COMES NOT INSTANTLY

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We may have to keep praying for Salvation, for weeks, or even many pain-filled months!

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But in the meanwhile, I can pray for the strength to study my Bible, and to contemplate its life-giving words through my day. And I can begin to turn away from all those things which have interfered with my having a total devotion to Jesus!

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And I can begin to live a life of seeking after the Lord, as is written…

“And ye shall seek Me, and find Me,

when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13

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Yes, this above verse from Jeremiah is really at the heart of our problem with God. 

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But now we must clear away all the rubbish and make plain and smooth the true pathway to the City of our God!

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USMC – Prayer before Bible study – Wikimedia – public domain

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the desire to follow Thee unreservedly. Show me where I may be hiding any idols. Help me forsake them. Let me know what joy is in store for those who forsake all to follow Thee…

Marine Praying – Wikimedia – USMC Public Domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Revelation 12 Woman & The Narrow Gate Stars (Orion’s Gate to Heaven)”, or you may also read… May 28th (George Whitefield: Ye Must Be Born Again!), or you may also read…February 4th (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?)

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

Info & pics of constellations on this site from Wikipedia & International Astronomical Union (click here)

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FINALLY WALKING UPWARD INTO THE HIGHWAYS OF ETERNITY

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Day by day, you will find yourself walking, like the Disciples, spreading the precious Gospel seed wherever the Spirit leads. Taking the lovely name of Jesus, with every word spoken. Walking through this sin-darkened world, witnessing to those who take notice that of a truth, Jesus is present within you. Even like faithful Enoch, walking through the highways and byways of life in this world, spreading the Gospel-seed of unpretentious love.

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Day by day, you will become more and more closed in with God. Moment by moment, your heart will become intertwined with God’s heart, eventually two hearts beating as one heart.And just like Enoch, when the appointed time of sojourning on earth is finally done…you will walk onward…and upward…and into the highways and byways of eternity. (“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24).

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Thomas Cole-Pilgrim of the Cross at the End of His Journey – Wikimedia – US public domain

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READ MORE…

To explore deeper into this subject, please read… “Castor and Pollux & The Mystery Ship of Scripture”

Question book magnify svg – Wikimedia – GNU license

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TOMORROW…

OCTOBER 11 (Noble Bereans, Part 3: Re-thinking Harold Camping)

Harold-Camping – courtesy Family Radio

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Steps to Christ by Ellen White – “The Test of Discipleship”

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CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THIS 18-MINUTE CHAPTER – – The Test of Discipleship (Steps to Christ) (youtube.com)

Jesus – tissot-meal-of-our-lord-and-the-apostles-public-domain (1)

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