Today's thought - 10 November 2026 (Always be ready)

 

How are you, my friend? Well, there are only one or two boxes left and then we are done. The house needed a bit of fixing but that will happen over time. I fixed the basics, you know the doors the windows. Moved the railings and hanged the curtains. Basic stuff as we prepare our little home for greater things. I proclaim that this house that God has blessed us with will be a place where He will be glorified and it will host many homecells and touch many lives, for the glory of God.

Ok wow, we are in 1 Peter 3:15, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it”. Ninja stuff, my friend. Always be prepared. I do not know if you ever watched those martial art movies and the young apprentice is trained by the master and he must always be alert and ready to defend himself as his master tests his skills.

Well, this is not that. Hahaha, Peter says you must always be ready to share the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection and forgiveness of our sins that comes with a new and better life through our Lord and His saving grace.

I have always been one who never put anything before my work and often I will sacrifice myself for the project or the work that needs to be done and in the end I am the one who suffers and what do you get out of it. Well, sometimes just more frustration and irritation and then you go and work hours into the night and your colleagues does not feel the same way about getting it done. Oh yes, it drives me up a wall.

Well as we are moving and I am fighting to get all the basic stuff done, I decided to put me before work. Hahaha, and yes, it was worth it because I got a lot done. It does not mean that I am suddenly a rebel and the work is evil. It just means that I followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit and I postponed what needs to be done to today and the rest of the week.

In all things and at all times we must be ready to defend and to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must always humble ourselves and do our best in everything even when it does not make sense or even when we do not like it. Sometimes my work can be way too much and sometimes I have a bit of time. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I want to run away. If I take how I feel and constantly speak it, my life in Jesus will have no authority and I am almost like a boat on the ocean tossed everywhere and never finds land. You know a boat without sails or a rudder.

When we start to place Jesus in His correct place in our lives we become like boats with and engine, a compass and we reach land. Yes, we have purpose. That purpose is sometimes in the way we speak, react or even share our experience. That is why it is so important that we protect our testimony, because our testimony becomes our tool to bring people to Jesus.

Thus, sharing is caring or rather sharing can save lives. My dear friend, never walk away from an opportunity to share the gospel and to share your story. What Jesus did or does in your life is sometimes just what someone needs to hear.

Have an awesome day, might warrior.

Today's thought - 09 November 2026 (The weight of sin)

 

How are you, my friend? Well, we are almost moved in. We are cleaning and packing out the last of our stuff. It has been absolutely crazy the last few days and I must say I do not think I will ever move again. In fact, they can bury me in this tiny garden. Hahahah.

The Holy Spirit led me to 1 Peter 2, and I am looking at verse 24, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed”.

We are kind off still hammering on “Who is Jesus to you” and our Pastor made a few very good comments yesterday. I guess when we look at it all from a Jesus perspective I must admit I have found myself in that boat amongst the disciples the last week or so and I heard the words of Jesus – “Why do you not have any faith”.

What is it about having faith that we struggle so much with. I would say it has a bit to do with patience (looking at myself) and then the Lord says in Psalm 37:34, “Wait on the LORD, And keep His way, And He shall exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it”.

Mmm… yes sometimes I want it done today or I want it to change today. Especially when it is something that we battle with or we do not like. Then, yes, I get impatient and my faith seems to fail. That is when we start making our own plans or we get irritated and we get angry and we just react on our emotions or frustrations.

To me that is a doubt increaser and faith decreases. Peter talks here in 1 Peter 2 of commitment and Jesus as the cornerstone of our faith. It is also the cornerstone that makes us fall when we do not obey the Word or God’s guidance. Peter says that we are living stones as we build a spiritual house but with that comes also spiritual sacrifices. These sacrifices are what is acceptable to God.

Peter reminds us that we are “sojourners and pilgrims” and that we should abstain from fleshly lusts and desires. They are the very tools that war against our souls. They are also the traps that makes us fall and fail.

Peter also mentions that we should take up the roles as servants and humble ourselves and that is the very next thing I think is a faith stealer. It is when we do not want to humble ourselves. It is that pick up your cross and suck it up buttercup attitude that either empowers us or makes us fail all over again.

Peter says simply that when you suffer while doing good and you endure grief in that process it is commendable. He says, “But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God”.

My friend, there will always be good times and there will always be bad times. We will always have tribulation in some or other way. It is not what we face but how we face. It is not what we do but how we do it. It is not about the outcome, but it is all about the obedience.

Stand strong, be strong, be patient, be humble but above all seek God. Jesus said in Matthew 7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened".

So, what is the weigh of sin. I do not think we will ever truly know because as Peter says, “By His stripes we are healed”. The true weight of sin is nothing compared to the weight of the cross. Jesus carried that cross to show and demonstrate true humility and true obedience. It is not about my will or your will, but it is all about God’s will.

Have an awesome day, my friend.

Today's thought - 04 November 2026 (In the beginning)

 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He made it all and by Him and through Him all things are made. We read in John 1 (AMP), “In the beginning [before all-time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]”.

We have been talking the last two weeks about who is Jesus to you and importantly so, because once we have established that it changes a lot of things. You see our identity shifts and our perspective changes, and our ideas change and our way of life change.

Jesus is the cornerstone. The most important part of the process and the one who holds all things together like laminin is the binding cell in your body that holds all together, so is Jesus the most vital part of our lives that holds all together and He is the very foundation that we stand on.

So, when we have come full circle and we make our choice and we counted the cost and we take up our cross to follow Jesus. Then we enter into a new way and new life that completely leaves the old self behind, as Paul wrote. You know, the die to self part.

So, when we look at “In the beginning” and “God created man in His image” we need to see that making a choice to follow Jesus places us in the “In the beginning part”. In the beginning God created a new you and the old you are now no more. He creates in you a new and pure heart and with the Holy Spirit our thoughts are changed and as we journey on in the new beginning we become more like Jesus – the image.

As we seek more of Him and place Him in His rightful place in our lives we will become more and more like Him. See like Him, talk like Him and act like Him. It is by our childlike faith that we will overcome and succeed when the world throws all the storms in our direction.

It is becoming what we read and what we speak and what we believe. That is why it is so important that we ask the question “Who is Jesus to you” and that we answer this question because all the choices we make in life has a cost. The cost of following Jesus is simply surrendering and taking up our cross and finally taking His burden and carrying His yoke. In other words when we live by His Word and His will, we will find peace and as we know the peace Jesus gives surpasses all understanding.

My dear friend, every choice we make has a consequence and we can choose to follow our own way or we can choose Jesus. Each choice has its own challenges, but when we choose Jesus, we will have life and life in abundance, and we will true peace and true rest. In Him lies everything.

He made it all and He brought it all into existence. Choosing Him will mean you will have tribulation but in your storms, you will have peace and life. This is the kind of life that no darkness can overcome, and no storm can defeat for we are more than conquerors and by His blood we are set free.

Remember it is not about this life. This life is but a drop in the ocean compared to the life that awaits us in eternity with our Lord. For a little while we will face the battles that the enemy brings, but these battles have no power for our Lord has already overcome this world. It is our words and fears that hold us back. It is in the end not by might or by power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God says in Deuteronomy 30:19, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”.

Choose life, my friend.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 03 November 2026 (He is in everything)

Whether it is in the beauty, power, or complexity of creation, a taste of God's wonder is engraved on all things as an unmistakable testament of His incomprehensible glory. The glory of God has been disclosed in the whole workmanship of the universe: "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Ps. 19:1) and "the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isa. 6:3). There are two helpful ways to express the presentation of God's glory in creation.

First, His glory is like a brilliant light shed abroad-even to the darkest reaches of the earth. This flashing light penetrates all men's minds (Rom. 1:19-20). It radiates richly throughout all the heavens, where the Lord's majesty is shed forth (Ps. 104:2). There is no place where the sparks of His glory cannot be discerned.

Second, the glory of God is revealed in creation like an image in a mirror. The glory of the invisible God is reflected visibly by His creation (Heb. 11:3). This allows all to gaze upon the invisible nature of God, as portrayed in His creation. Whether God's glory appears like a light or like an image in a mirror, truly men cannot open their eyes without being compelled to see Him.

Though God's whole creation displays His glory, it is man himself, as the pinnacle of creation, who reveals God's glory most explicitly. He is a rare spectacle of God's power, goodness, and wisdom. Infants have tongues so eloquent to preach God's glory that there is no need at all for other orators (cf. Ps. 8:2). The human body-from its mouth and eyes to its very toenails exhibits exquisite workmanship.

Man's soul, in intelligence, imagination, memory, and even in dreaming, speaks of his Creator. The image of God has been so fully stamped upon men that, as all are adorned with an air of His glory, God readily testifies that He is the Father of all (Acts 17:28). God has made man His masterpiece, surpassing all else in creation.

Further, as the church is conformed to the express image of the invisible God, Jesus Christ (Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3), the glory of God becomes more distinct. For the unbeliever, the expression of God in creation cannot be missed, even if the darkness of his mind causes the image to appear clouded. For him, the glory of God displayed in creation is a testimony against unbelief (Rom. 1:19-20).

In addition to the inward witness of the heart, God has provided innumerable evidences in the world of His existence and of man's duty to submit to his Creator (cf. Acts 14:16-17). The glory of God is inscribed in creation with bold letters, yet the unbeliever has exchanged the glory of the incorruptible for images of corruptible things (Rom. 1:23).

This confusion of the creation with the Creator supplants the true God with a shadow deity, depriving God of His right as Creator and denying creation's proper place as an announcement of the glories of its Maker. Though God sweetly attracts men with semblances of His glory, man's rashness and superficiality, joined with ignorance and darkness, have led to disdain for creation's testimony and, ultimately, to a rejection of the Creator Himself.

For the believer, the beauty of creation speaks of the majestic beauty of his God. With Scripture's revelation and the Spirit's work, the believer is able rightly to understand and appreciate the glory of God displayed in creation. He hears God's awesome voice upon the waters, breaking the cedars, shaking the wilderness, and causing new birth; thus, the believer worships the Lord in the beauty of holiness (Ps. 29).

Examining creation brings him to praise and submit to his sovereign Creator-who sustains the mass of heaven and earth by His Word. God's nod alone shakes the heavens with thunderbolts; kindles the air with flashes; disturbs the earth with storms and then silences them; and compels the sea to hang as though in midair, only to make it calm again.

All of this incites reverential awe and adoration in the heart of every believer for the glorious God heralded by creation.

(Taken from John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion)

 

Today's thought - 02 November 2026 (Lord of all or not Lord at all)

 

How are you, my friend? We have been looking at following Jesus and two very important things stood out. One it is not a negotiation and two, who is Jesus to you? Jesus asked the disciples in Luke 9:18, “Who do people say I am?” and Peter said that Jesus is the Messiah sent from God. Jesus went on and talked about the things that He must endure and go through. Jesus talked about His death and resurrection.

If we look at a few things that we discussed in the last two weeks. Jesus said that you must take up your cross and follow Him. Jesus said that there is a cost to follow Him and if you are not going to die to yourself and put Him first then you cannot be a follower of Jesus.

Jesus said that you must hate the things that comes before Him. As we remember Jesus said in Luke 14:26-27, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else - your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple".

If something creeps in and becomes a threat that puts Jesus second, you must hate that and put Jesus back as number one in your life. Jesus denied His place and humbled Himself and became a servant to demonstrate His love for us.

Following Jesus is not a negation and it means that you become less and He becomes more. He did not come to destroy you, He came to save you. He came so that we can have life and life in abundance. So, what are the things we have to give up when we talk about dying to self.

In Luke 9:62 we read, But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Remember what Paul said. He said he dies daily and he does not look at what is behind him, but instead he looks forward at what lies ahead.

The battles remain in our minds. Taking up your cross is about taking up the life that God has designed for us. The fact remains that Jesus says in Matthew 22, Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest A second is equally important: Love your neighbour as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

He says all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. Your mind must not be a garbage site. It must become a holy place that is filled with the Word of God. The bread of life and instead of allowing the enemy to distract you and derail you, you must meditate on the Word and make it your thoughts and the words that you speak.

We read in 1 Peter 1:7, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold - though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world”.

It is in our trials and in our battles that our minds can become vulnerable to the influences around us and as Peter says your faith is more precious than gold and when it remains strong it will be a reward.

My dear friend, again I ask you – Who is Jesus to you? Where do you put Him in your life and how valuable is your relationship with Him?

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 30 October 2026 (This is a game changer)

 

How are you, my friend? The weekend is finally upon us, hahahaha. I do hope you are well and that your day will be just amazing. We are in Philippians today and my verse comes from Philippians 3:13-14, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”.

Paul is just an amazing example of a life lived in total surrender. You know we always have some sort of an excuse when we have to do something we do not want to do or something that is out of our comfort zone. Google says that an excuse is a reason, real or invented, given to explain a mistake, bad behaviour, a missed obligation, or an absence in order to avoid or reduce blame.

In other words, we make up a story why we can’t do it or will not be able to do it. Paul had his encounter with our Lord Jesus on his way to Damascus and with this lost his sight. The Lord told Annanias to go and see Paul and pray for him to have his sight back. Now you have to enjoy the irony in this situation. Here is Paul on his way to Damascus to kill (not arrest) the followers of Jesus. On the way He has his encounter and loses his sight. God tells Annanias to go to Paul, the very man that wanted to kill him. Can you imagine the inner turmoil and fear that we will have to face on a mission like this.

Yet Paul obediently went to where the Lord sent him and Annias obediently did as Jesus said and went to Paul. Can you imagine the confusion when either one meets one another. Here is Paul blind and converted and as Annanias prays for him, God restores his sight and he gets baptized to go the very next day to the Synagogue where he persecuted the followers of Jesus to preach the message of the gospel.

Can you imagine the whole picture on what happened here in this scenario. My friend, this is Jesus at work. It will not always make sense to me and you, but when we obey, we will see God’s ways and as we know they are above our ways.

This is such a classical example of being a follower of Jesus and who Jesus is to Paul and Annias for that matter. Paul writes here in Philippians 3 that all the knowledge and accolades and trophies and possessions mean nothing compared to knowing Jesus and that he gave all that up or rather he holds no value to it, except what he has in Jesus Christ. We know Paul was a very educated man and a very intelligent man, yet he says that this has no value for him. He says in verse 7-9, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith”.

This is just amazing and it is so important that we understand this and not miss the mark because of our carnal needs and our own desires, but that we would surrender all that and submit all to our Lord Jesus Christ. And as Paul says that we forget what lies behind us and press on forward towards what lies I before us. Is not what is already done, but what we can still do for His glory and for Him.

My friend, it boils down to the phrase “Die to self” and give all to the Lord and trust Him in all and with all for God is only moved by our faith and not what we do or say. We can only please God with faith. So do not be a Peter on the ocean with little faith or the apostles in the boat in the midst of a storm with no faith. Paul says in all of this he knows he can achieve it all, not by power not by might but by the power of the Holy Spirit through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have an awesome day and please do not give up.

Today's thought - 29 October 2026 (Are you the servant or the master)

 

How are you today, my friend? Well, the weekend is a few hours away and I do hope you and me will get some rest this weekend. We are back in Galatians 6, and I love how Paul says it here in verse 14, “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died”.

Now two things. One we are chatting this week on or the last two weeks on Who Jesus is to you and the cost of following Jesus. Are you the rich young man that could not part with his possession and follow Jesus. Are your treasures in heaven and do you seek God above all else in your life?

Yes, I know all good questions? The real question is, where do you find yourself today? I have bought a house and believe me that in its own way was a miracle because I never thought that the bank would give me a home loan let alone finding a house exactly where I wanted one. Plus, it is affordable, well for me. It has been a six-month process of one issue on the next and not from my side but on the seller’s side. First the owner passed away and then the contract had to be signed by both his wife and son. The son was away for a month and then just as everything started to finalize there suddenly appeared a second wife and now, she also wanted a piece of the proceeds and so the process had to start all over again. Then when all is in place and the date to move out is set in the first week of November, then suddenly the owner of the place I am renting wants me out because he wants to renovate and he only has the first week in November to do that. What do we do? Now there is no place to stay and no place to go with my stuff.

So, what is the human non follower of Jesus’s first reaction. Well, yes, I was upset and yes, I thought well his rear end, I only have to move in November, and this is what was communicated from the start. The owner obviously was not so happy and wanted to end his business with the agency that does the rentals and he suddenly has a whole list of expectations, and he will move his business somewhere else. You know the typical reaction people like that have when they do not get what they want and the law is not on their side and in fact, they are wrong.

So, what do I do? Well of course I could not care. Hahaha no, so I arranged for my stuff to be moved into storage and then when the lady moves out of the place I bought, I will move my stuff from storage to the new home. I wrote a letter to the owner of the place I rent and apologized for my selfishness and asked for his forgiveness and that my response and quick action to move out will amend his relationship with the agency that does the rentals. Now, this is not because I am suddenly so righteous and holy. No, it is the Holy Spirit giving me wisdom and letting me take the inconvenience and in the same process blessing the agent and hopefully restoring the relationship. This is God blessing me so I can be a blessing to someone else. This is showing who Jesus is in my life and using this testimony to show Jesus to someone else. I would not have had any authority in my walk with Jesus had I not listen to the Holy Spirit and become the servant instead of the selfish tenant.

This is God at work in my life and in the lives of other. This is the model Jesus lived when He was here and the example that He set when He said, “Love each other as I have loved you”.

My friend, again I ask you. Who is Jesus to you?

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 28 October 2026 (Oh that die to self stuff)

 

How are you, my friend? yes, we are still in Galatians 5, and I guess I failed my test yesterday when I was tested again by the selfish gain of man and his ways. Haha, I guess we all get into that position where you think that you are always the person that has to give in and be inconvenienced because of the lack of good in people.

So, the Holy Spirit placed a number of things om my mind and it started with verse 14, For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself”. Paul continuous to say that we should be beware of or mindful of destroying one another.

In essence there was a false doctrine that was spread in the church, and people were preaching circumcision instead of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul is very serious in his response and in his examples saying that “I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves”.

This is actually so important because when we look at that sentence and we look at the cost of following Jesus, we must always consider that to follow Jesus means to die to self, to give up on all you have and to love other as you love yourself.

Paul makes a few important statements and one I really like is verse 9, “This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough!”.

Is it not funny how a little misdirection or gossip or negativity can influence us so dramatically. I have often told you that we must guard our ear gate, mouth gate, eye gate and touch gate, because what we allow in is just like yeast. Soon it will affect our entire being and our mind and our thoughts.

Paul tells the church to be mindful of that and that to follow Jesus is to reject the old ways and accept the new life we have in Jesus and as we have clearly seen now in the last week that it is not just following Jesus but is a non-negotiable choice that we make and then start to live out.

Following Jesus is not a momentarily thing. It becomes a way of life. I guess the hardest part is when Paul writes here about the fruit of the Spirit.

” But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”

There is that word again – longsuffering. The Holy Spirit reminds me again today of the cost of following Jesus. It is not I that live anymore, but Jesus that lives in me and through Him I have victory, but that victory becomes a way of living in all aspects of this world. We know that we are not here anymore, but we are in heavenly places and that this life is but a moment and what we do daily is supposed to bring glory to God.

This means that sometimes I have to remove myself from the situation and listen to the Holy Spirit. I keep thinking that all things will work out for good and that what was intended to destroy us will be turned around and save many.

My dear friend, do not allow the enemy’s lies to break you and hurt you and make you angry. Sometimes we must give in to the situation to bless another.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 27 October 2026 (What was remains behind)

 

I hope you are doing well, my friend and that our talks the last few days had given Jesus a new place in your life and in your day-to-day stuff. We are in this series of Who Jesus is to us and following Him is not a negotiation or a mediocre walk of my ways and my terms and my time. It is all for the glory of God and His ways are above our ways.

I am taken back to Galatians 5, and my verse is from verse 25 and as we can see it says, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives”.

But honestly, I love how Paul starts this whole chapter in verse one. He says, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law”.

So, this image I have in my head is of a person who is just out of his chains that he was bound with. You know like on those pirate ships on his way to the gallows. He was tied with these chains and finally they came lose. Now he can be bound by the laws of his trade and step back into the ship to bring vengeance on those who offended him or betrayed him or lied about him or he can accept the chance that all this is behind him as he slips of into the night and into the light of redemption and just let go of what lies behind him and soak in the air of freedom.

What a picture. Hahaha, well where are you in your journey of following Jesus. I can only hope that what we have discussed the last week has given you a new sense of direction and purpose and we both (me included) understand that the place God must have in our lives supersedes all other things.

Paul says since we are now living by the Holy Spirit, we must follow His direction. He is that small voice that speaks into our lives and into our hearts guiding us and directing us. We have to choose to follow His Word and His direction, because since Jesus has truly set us free, we must remain free from the chains and the bondage that kept us in the world.

Our Pastor used the example in Luke 14:15 – 35 of the man that was going to hold the massive banquet, and he invited all his friends. One by one they started to respond with one excuse over the next one and asked to be excused from the banquet. The man then decided to invite all the poor and needy people all over the city. Jesus uses this example and He says in verse 26, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else - your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple”.

When Jesus says hate, He does not refer to rejection and abandonment but instead refers to position. He must be first and you must always put Him above all other things as I wrote to you yesterday. To carry your cross is to take your challenges and the problems you face and keep going. The disciples left their homes, businesses, family and possessions and followed Jesus. That is why Jesus says in 33, “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own”.

So, I think it is fairly clear that the day we decide to follow Jesus, there should be no other. It boils down to a choice of obedience or a matter of my terms and conditions and when it comes to me and the stuff that I deem more important, then you are in trouble.

There are a few things I need to remind myself when I look at what Jesus says here when we decide to follow Him. I have to look at the cost of becoming a follower of Jesus. It is an all or nothing principle. Have you ever seen a football player run halfway across the field and just stop. When we do sports or even watch sports we do not do it half-heartedly. We watch the whole game, or we play to the end, and we keep fighting to win. Why do we give up so easily when it comes to following Jesus. This series and this chapter in Luke 14, has given me a new look on being a Christian versus being a follower of Jesus. If I have decided to follow Jesus, then I look at the cross before me and the world remains behind me. Nothing and I mean nothing should alter that choice nor influence that choice. Not even my family. Jesus is and should stand out regardless the storms, the challenges and my own needs and desires. That is why Jesus so clearly said that we should seek the kingdom of heaven above all else. Go and read Matthew 6 again and meditate on all this, my friend. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide and give you direction as Paul says do not go back to what we were but instead be renewed as we part with the old self and embrace a new self. I know it is not so easy, but what I also know is that Jesus did not intend us to do this on our own. That is why we have the Holy Spirit.

Have an awesome day, my friend.

Today's thought - 26 October 2026 (This is where the enemy should be)

 

How are you, my friend? I hope you had a very good and blessed weekend. We have been looking for a while now at who Jesus is to us and that to follow Jesus is not a negotiation but a commitment where you have to decide to give up everything that is between you and Him and surrender it all. In other words, die to self – completely.

As we have seen, there is always in some or other way something that will hinder your progress and tries to come between you and the Lord. Jesus as we have seen made it very clear that to be His disciple you must pick up your cross and follow Him. He said that where your treasure is, so will your heart be and you cannot follow two masters, for you will love the one and hate the other.

Jesus was very direct in this, and we know that Peter and John left everything and followed Jesus. Sometimes it means we have to let go of that sacred cow and just allow the Holy Spirit to point out areas where we need to surrender and then submit.

God as we know is a jealous God, and He wants all of you because He gives you all of Him. He never leaves you and He never forsakes you. He is in it with you to the end and He will be in it with you no matter what.

So, why do we allow the enemy to mislead us and hinder our progress. I said to my friend who is facing battle after battle that sometimes we must be happy when all hell breaks loose, because it means we are doing something right and satan does not like that. He hates a follower of Jesus because followers of Jesus impact the world around them. Now when I say follower of Jesus it means we have decided to follow Jesus, no matter what.

My verse is from Psalm 110:1, The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”

Ooooo…. I love this verse. God says that this is where the enemy should be. This is where he is. He is your footstool. He is under your feet. I know that it is easier said than done when the things we need to let go is our wives or children or money or cars or house or friend or girlfriend. It does not mean you must turn away from them, it means that God is first and when He calls you answer even if it means that date night is now next week or you cannot spend time with the kids. It means that the game on the television is not important, but church is and when they do not want to get up and go to church that you put your foot down.

If your wife does not want to go, then she stays and you go and the other way around. If it is your girlfriend or boyfriend, well I think you should reconsider the relationship because if they do not love Jesus as you do or more it will not work.

Follow Jesus as I said is a decision we make and a decision that we stand on and there is no turning back and there is no negotiation. It is a done deal, and the enemy is a fallen enemy, and he has no place in your life, nor does he have a place in your thoughts.

His place is under your feet, and your place is with Jesus in heavenly places. That is why it is so important that we seek God above all else and place Him first above all else.

My friend reminded me of Abraham and how obedient he was and there was nothing that was before God in his life, not even his own son. Our sacrifice is not giving up our son or our possessions. Our sacrifice is putting God above all those things. That is why Paul wrote that all things and I mean ALL things work out for good for those who love God and are called by His purpose.

My friend, please do not allow the enemy to sell a lie to you or to deceive you. We can do all things with God, and nothing can separate us from His love, and nothing should come between us and God.

Have an awesome day.