WHAT
HOLDS ME BACK?
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is
your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing,
and perfect will of God.
Philippians 2:1-4 If then there is any
encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the
Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by thinking the same way,
having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do
nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more
important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own
interests, but also for the interests of others.
Mar 10:17-22 As He was setting out
on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good
Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why
do you call Me good?" Jesus asked him. "No
one is good but One--God. You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not
commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor
your father and mother." He said to Him, "Teacher, I have
kept all these from my youth." Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and
said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you
have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow Me." But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away
grieving, because he had many possessions.
1
Corinthians 2:9-12
But
as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the
heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But
God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches
all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man
except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things
of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have
been freely given to us by God.
God’s spirit gives us scriptures to meditate over every
day, this month I would like to share these. Because this is a Bible study
posting, today I am going to ask you to do some things to play along. Before we starts you should go and find, if possible, a folder and some sticky notes, a notebook or
journal or just some plain writing paper and a Bible… Go I will wait for you…Good
you’re back. Take a few minutes to read the passages on this post in
your Bible and write down some or as many significant event in your
life in chronological order. Write them down in terms of before and after you met Jesus. Make sure you have
enough sticky notes or paper to right on. When you have written them down (all
the ones you care to deal with for now) place them in the following categories:
- · Which ones were the times that you felt most isolated from God?
- · Which ones were the times were conflict was present?
- · Which ones did you feel Divine intervention must have happened?
- · Which ones you felt close to God?
Now in light of both the passage in Mark and the passage in Philippians above, words of
encouragement and love for one another and considering others better than us, ask
yourselves this question; Like the rich young ruler, what is it that I have to
let go of to be able to follow Jesus? Is it bitterness, anger, pride,
attitude, traditions, passive aggressiveness, lust, a nagging sin that you just
won’t let go, hate towards someone or something, neglecting following through with
an idea, forgiveness, etc. Pray and ask God to help you deal with your hang up.
Repent and ask for forgiveness and surrender your gifts to Jesus that you may better
follow Him and serve others. Go and pray and when you finish praying you’re dismissed, just be
mindful of the event that just happened in your life.
RH
