3.31.11 "Keep Close to Me!"

"Keep Close to Me!"

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20
Luke 9:7-27
Psalm 72:1-20
Proverbs 12:8-9

"Keep Close to Me!" In what situations have you heard that phrase? When my daughter was old enough to walk in stores we began to practice obedience. If Lisa or I would say "close" Annalese was supposed to see how fast she could get to us. She was supposed to drop whatever she was doing and RUN to us. We would also do it when we were out for walks. She'd get ahead of us or something and we'd say, "Annalese, close!" She would turn and run back to us.

Why did we teach her that? We were teaching her that right next to us is a safe place to be. We were making practice of an important principle.

Jesus says "Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me! Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it, but whoever insists on keeping his life will lose it; and what profit is there in gaining the whole world when it means forfeiting one's self?" (Luke 9:23-25)

Why does Jesus say "Keep close to me"? Because next to him is the safest place to be.

What does it take to be close to him? We have to drop everything and run to him. We have to put aside our own desires and conveniences. It's those desires left unchecked that will bring us to harm.

What does it mean to take up your cross? It means that we live at all times with an understanding that we are dying to flesh. "Dead Man Walking". Every step I take down the road of life must be a step that is not directed by self, but by the Spirit. It must be a part of being close to him.

There's something within that cries out, "But think of all the things you miss out on if you die to flesh! Think of all the things YOU want to do!" The world's understanding is that the only way to find fulfillment is if I chase my own wants and needs, but the truth is, If I lose my life for the sake of following Christ, I will actually find the fulfillment of the all of the desires. This happens for a number of reasons, the main one being that knowing Christ transforms our desires into what he wants them to be. They work for his glory.

When we live to serve the flesh, we ultimately lose out not only on the fulfillment, but can eventually lose our soul because we are living for self.

What steps are you taking today? Are they for your desire and convenience, or are they for walking in step with Christ? Stay close to him today!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

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