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.

Today's thought - 23 October 2026 (Being spiritually minded above wordly minded)

 

So, how are you today? You know my friend, we have been walking together for some time now. I know it might not be the same to read my thoughts than to hear them, but I know that the Holy Spirit who places the Word in my heart will also work in your heart to reveal to you what He has in mind for you and for your life.

Romans 8 just popped into my head this morning and as I read the whole chapter, I am again in awe of the God we worship and how amazing His love is. This week has been no different than the previous ones and I can feel the enemy fighting me all the way. He is almost desperate as he tries every pathetic trick in his book of destruction. I say pathetic because that is what it is.

Yesterday he worked through my ex-wife who made a judging comment, and I was so upset on hearing this. I think her arrogance in her words just got to me and it upset me. I realized that she will not change and the end of this process must be near because her ways are inconsistent and just amazes me. The enemy used that moment to try and get to me and as it was a close call, I went to our homecell and instead of being upset I said that now I will seek God even more and to hell with satan and all his goonies.

You see, we should not allow the garbage of satan to get a place in our heads. We are seated in heavenly places, and he (satan) is under our feet. Just keep reminding him of that, because Jesus defeated him and he has no power over us unless we give it to him. So, no, he will not get a place in my head. His place is under my feet, and my trust, hope and faith are in God who created heaven and earth, and my promised land is around the corner.

Paul says in Romans 8:6, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace”. We are looking at following Jesus, taking up your cross and it is not a negotiation. Our Pastor said on Sunday:

We want a Saviour who rescues us, but are we prepared to submit to a Lord who commands us?

We want His blessings, but do we want His authority?

We want His promises, but do we want His instructions?

We want the crown, but what about the cross?

We want Jesus but our hearts are worldly focussed. Jesus said you must lose your life to follow Him. Jesus says in Luke 14:33, “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own”. He talks here in Luke 14 about the cost of following Him and how a man who wants to build a house will first look at the cost of building that house and if he is able to carry that cost. In the same way we must look at the cost of following Jesus and are we able to carry that cost. Jesus is very direct here as He said that if you are not willing to give up everything, you will not be able to become His disciple.

Paul writes in Romans 8, “For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God”.

But he goes on to say that nothing we suffer now remotely compares to the glory we will receive later. He also wrote that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses and even when we do not know what to pray, He prays for us. The Spirit pleads for us in harmony with God’s will because God knows all hearts and He will cause everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

My friend, it is so important that you stand up when you are down and let the Holy Spirit help you and guide you. The cost of following Jesus is worth every little bit that you have to sacrifice and despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

When the storms become to much, seek Him. When the pain is unbearable, seek Him. When the weight becomes to much, seek Him. When people hurt you, seek Him. When the future seems dark and impossible, seek Him. Nothing can separate us from the love of God so come with me as we surrender anything else that separates us from Him and trust Him completely as we follow Jesus. Say with me, I have decided to follow Jesus. The world behind me and the cross before me. There is no turning back.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 22 October 2026 (Beating the enemy at the gate)

 

How are you today, my friend? We are still on the idea that being a Christian is not a negotiation, and Jesus set the ultimate example in His life up to the cross. I am reminded that the servant is not greater than the master and somedays our lives are the only Gospel people see or hear for that matter.

Yes, it is of no surprise that the Holy Spirit took me to Romans 5 this morning and yes, verse 3 to 4 that undeniably states, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation”.

You know Peter sat next to Jesus, and we read in Matthew 26:33, Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you”. We know that immediately Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter - this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”

Jesus knows. I have talked about this before when I stated that Jesus knows what we go through because He went through it. He was tested, persecuted, lied about, denied, deserted, falsely accused and killed by the very people that is supposed to have known who He was and His innocence in it all. How can we be surprised if people do the same to us and how can we doubt that Jesus is in it with us.

Peter bravely said that he is in it to the end and when the test came, he failed and denied Jesus. How many times do we start of with fire and flare just to end up two or three months down the line with the it is too much attitude, and Jesus does not love me phrase. Jesus was in that garden sweating blood from the weight of the burden that awaited Him and even then, He chose to be a servant and gave up His life for us all. He did not just die an instant death, no, He faced the most severe and horrendous punishment known to man at that time.

Here I am and every second week I complain that my battles and my burden is too much to bear. Who am I that even in my weaknesses and through all my complains, Jesus is patient and consistent and interceding for me with love and grace.

Sometimes we need to look at what I said in my previous posts. What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Jesus. When God has a plan, He finds a man (woman). What do we do when God calls? Do we say, yes Lord and then two weeks later it is “Oops Lord”.

My friend why is it so important that we stay true to the Lord and keep trusting Him. Remember that Jesus called Peter back from his shame and betrayal and restored him. Jesus asked him three times. “Do you love me” and finally Peter broke and said that the Lord knows his heart and that Jesus knows who he is. Then Jesus made an amazing statement saying that on this rock He will build His church.

Do you think Jesus did not know what would happen? Do you think that your failure is a surprise to Jesus? What did Peter do after that day? He passionately carried the gospel into the world even to his own demise. In the end he did die for the Lord. Jesus knew this and knew what it would take. He knows your circumstances and He knows what it will take to get you on fire for Him. What is so very important is that when we fail, we need to go back to the Lord and consistently seek Him. I did not know this in my past and when the shame and guilt of my divorce hit me, I carried that burden and blamed myself. Even when I asked for forgiveness, I did not forgive myself and that burden that pulled me down broke me and made me useless for Jesus. So, any other little storm that I faced placed me back into that shame please be sorry for me attitude. This carries on until I found my identity in Jesus and forgave myself and allowed the Holy Spirit to do what He must do. This does not mean I was in instant poof fix. It is an ongoing process of seeking God above all else and believe me, my storms turned from small rainstorms to hurricanes. It is not easy, but I find my comfort in Jesus Christ and in Him and through Him I can do all things, even when it looks impossible and even when I do not want to do it.

My friend that is why we are back in Romans 5, for we can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Just do not give up, remember that sorrow may last the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Have an awesome day.

Today's thought - 21 October 2026 (Is suffering punishment)

 

How are you, my friend? We are looking at taking up your cross and following Jesus. I am reminded that our Pastor said on Sunday that this is not a negotiation and when we chose to follow Jesus, we chose a different life than what the world wants. Yes, we are supposed to be different, and we are supposed to stand out.

My verse this morning in from Hebrews 5:8, “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered”. Jesus also said in John 13:16, “I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message”.

Jesus suffered a great deal when He was here on earth and through His suffering, He remained obedient to His purpose until the end. We know from Matthew 26:39 that Jesus was in great agony as He awaited His capture. We read here He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

It is not about you or me, my friend. It is all for God and His purpose in our lives. When you say I have decided to follow Jesus you chose to be separated from the world and to step into heavenly places as I have said in our previous posts.

Suffering is not a punishment because Jesus did not hide the terms and conditions of following Him. He made it very clear that we will have tribulation, and we will go through tough times. How do we overcome the battles and how do we deal with the trials and the temptations that we face each day.

I want to take you to two women in Luke 10. We read that Jesus visited Martha and Mary and we read that Mary sat at Jesus’s feet while Martha was running around preparing for the big dinner. She came to Jesus and said that it is unfair that she is doing all the work and Mary is just sitting there. I love Jesus’s answer in Luke 10:41-42, But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary was at Jesus’s feet and here the Lord said that this is very important. So, when the noise and the garbage and battles and the tribulation makes you worried and distracted, you will find you rest at the feet of Jesus. In the Word of God. In your prayer and quiet time with Him. By seeking Him above all else and desiring more of Jesus as Mary did. She literally sat at His feet soaking in every word that He spoke. Jesus said Mary discovered it and it will not be taken from her. Do you see, when you find that peace in faith in Jesus it will not be taken from you.

It is that child like faith and a desperate hunger for Him that will pull you through whatever you face today. It is by humbling yourself before Him and seeking Him in all areas of your life that you will have peace that surpasses all understanding.

God made it clear, my friend, in Isaiah 54:17, “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the LORD; their vindication will come from me. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Have an awesome day, my friend.

Today's thought - 20 October 2026 (Is your cross to heavy)

 

How are you, my friend? I want to talk to you this week about the cross. Our Pastor said on Sunday that this is not a negotiation. Remember God loved us first and somehow, we think that following Jesus requires no sacrifice.

My verse is from Hebrews 3:6, “But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ”.

Is Jesus in charge of everything in your house, in your life. We cannot follow Jesus on our terms. That is why when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and saviour we have moved from our old life and our old way of doing things to a new set of rules and a new way of doing things.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:24-26, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds”.

That is why Jesus said to the rich young man in Matthew 19:21, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” And the young man walked away sad because he could not do it. His possession was more important than the life he could have in Jesus.

Now, when we chose to follow Jesus, we step into a new way of living meaning that we have to surrender all of ourselves to Jesus and remove all that keeps us from following Him completely. I spoke about this last week when we talked about who is Jesus to you. What is His position in your life? What does it mean when Jesus said take up your cross and follow me.

Now it does not mean you have to be crucified for real. Remember when we gave our lives to Jesus, we crucified our old life and was born again into our new life. We died to the old and embraced the new. I have also said that taking up this new way of life means that sacrifices will have to be made. There is stuff that you just can’t do anymore. That is why Jesus said if you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. He is saying that if your hang on to the things of your old life, you will lose your life in Him.

Our Pastor said that money does not corrupt people or fame and power does not corrupt people. It just brings to the surface that which was already there. That is why the rich young man could not give up his possessions because it was what bound him to this world. The question remains is that what is it that keeps you in the world and away from God’s presence. What keeps us from sitting in heavenly places and allows the enemy a grip in your life. Following Jesus means that no matter how hard it is to give up your old life you must give it up and take up your cross. Remember you are first a Christian so you cannot place your light under a bushel. When you chose Jesus there has to be a removal, a humbling of yourself and position change. You have to surrender all and become obedient to the new requirements that the Word of God gives you and you need to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit if our minds are filled with garbage.

So, come with me this week as we take up our cross and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us and realign us with God’s Word.

Have an awesome day, my friend.