Lord break this heart

Why so often do we fail?

What is it about sin that is so destructive?

Why do I feel so ashamed every time I sin?

What is my motivation to do more for God?

I want to say it’s out of a devoted, passionate heart that loves the Lord and wants his name to be glorified (and many times this is the reason) but, if I’m truly honest then many times it’s nothing more than _{selfish ambition}.

Am I reaching out to serve the “least of these“, to serve Jesus, or am I just trying to selfishly store up my treasures in heaven? I’m not saying that storing up treasures in heaven is bad, far from it. It is simply amazing that the God of all creation would count the work that his children do to bless and serve others as worthy of reward. He is the only one worthy to receive a reward, yet still he wants to bless his children. I don’t understand why the Lord of all creation would seek me out to help further his kingdom. I have recently started going through the Radical series online by David Platt (pastor in Birmingham, Alabama). It’s made me look at the gospel message much more carefully; to study what Jesus said those days so many years ago that changed the world for eternity. Do I really want to live my comfortable life, with my comfortable friends? Or, do I want to engage with the creator in a way that others will say is crazy? Do I want to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heel the lepers? Or would I rather watch my tv, read my mystery novels, and ignore the pain of this world?

I simply cannot ignore the calling of Christ. I don’t want to stand before God on judgement day and have him say that while I would have accumulated a great treasure in heaven, that I will not be able to reap the benefits because he never knew me.

I want to worship in spirit and in truth. I want to live my life in a manner that is biblical. I want to run to Jesus and his Spirit each and every morning with open arms and say “here am I, use me”. I want Satan to shudder at the thought of what the Lord will use me for. I want be broken again and again, that he may fill me back up.

I want to live out the gospel message of _{Luke 14:25-35}

The Cost of Being a Disciple

²⁵Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? ²⁹For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,³⁰saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

³¹“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³²If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.³³In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

³⁴“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The following is a song that speaks out the hearts of a generation crying out. Whether those who are longing to serve or those desperately needing Jesus, I see each persons’ voice echo through.

Surely children weren’t made for the streets

And fathers were not made to leave

Surely this isn’t how it should be

Let Your Kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can’t be what You saw

Let Your Kingdom come

Here in my heart

I will live

To carry Your compassion

To love a world that’s broken

To be Your hands and feet

I will give

With the life that I’ve been given

And go beyond religion
To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name

Surely life wasn’t made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead

Let Your Kingdom come

Your name
Is a shelter for the hurting
Jesus Your name
Is a refuge for the weak

Only Your name

Can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
Holds everything I need

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