True contentment can only be found in serving God.
Dare 2 Share - But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. (Matthew 19:30)
A mother was preparing pancakes for her 5-year-old son Kevin and 3-year-old son Ryan. When the boys started arguing over who would get the first tasty pancake, she saw a great opportunity to teach them a Biblical lesson. “Boys” she said, “if Jesus were sitting here this morning, He would say ‘let me brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’”
Kevin turned to his brother and said, “Ryan, today you get to be Jesus!”
I’m afraid there are far too many ‘Kevin Christians’ in the church today…sitting at the table of life letting others be Jesus because it might cost them something personally.
We can have the fish on the car, the WWJD bracelet on our wrists, and the Bible on the coffee table, but it’s what’s inside that counts!
So what are the ‘pancakes’ in your life that make it difficult to be Christlike? Here are a few that the Bible lists:
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24)
Here is a big lie: when you get what you want you’ll be happy…wrong! True contentment can only be found in serving God. If the almighty buck has a hold on you, drop it like a bad habit- because it is!
“Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?” (II Corinthians 6:14)
Some people are happy to follow Jesus until they fall in love with the wrong person or get hooked up with the wrong group of friends. Just keep in mind that if Jesus isn’t your best friend, He is no friend at all.
“And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.” (Luke 14:27)
This one pretty much sums it up, doesn’t it? Carrying your own cross means you take a intense look at your life to find the things that come between you and your Lord, then nail them to the cross with brutal force…daily!
"The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is the hand over your whole self--all your wishes and precautions--to Christ."
C.S. Lewis--Mere Christianity
Trust me on this one: the second pancake is worth the wait.
Questions:
1) Can you relate more to Kevin or Ryan? Why?
2) When is it more convenient to be like Christ?
3) What is one area which God is speaking to you about?
