Daily Reading
An Undivided Life in God
January 26, 2025
We are not yet wholehearted; parts of us are still double-minded. This reality has brought anguish and near despair to saints, mystics, and Jesus-friends down through the centuries. Why can’t we stay in that one sweet place of union with Christ?
Our essential problem is this: We want two things that are in fundamental conflict with one another:
We truly do want Jesus. We do.
We also want a good life; it pulls on us every moment.
There are seasons when those things seem to be compatible. Until they are not. Like our dear brothers and sisters in parts of the world where they face fierce persecution and martyrdom at the hands of Islamist jihadist groups or oppressive governmental regimes. But in the developed world, where we have the entire base of human knowledge available to us in a few clicks and same-day delivery, the conflict is far less clear to us. The Church in the West has assured folks that they can live two lives: “You can have Jesus, and you can have a wonderful life! In fact, this is God’s will for you!”
It is not true.
Of course your Father is a good Papa, and he loves to bless his children. Absolutely.
But there comes a time in your life with him that you will have to choose God over everything else ... for the rest of your life.
Every saint, mystic, and friend of Jesus through the ages will tell you so. Jesus has told you so many times in the Gospels. We have parables like the ten bridesmaids, the sower and the seed, the man who wanted to store up wealth in bigger barns. We have blunt statements by Jesus like this one: “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
I just looked up that verse online (there’s the Internet life we all take for granted), and as I was reading, little ads perfectly targeted to my shopping habits kept flashing at me. How much more blatant of an example do we want? I’m on a Bible website for heaven’s sake, and still the message sneaks in: Sure, you can have Jesus. And, you can also have all these little niceties that make you feel better!
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Jesus said that too.
Want More? Order your copy of Experience Jesus. Really. today
Our essential problem is this: We want two things that are in fundamental conflict with one another:
We truly do want Jesus. We do.
We also want a good life; it pulls on us every moment.
There are seasons when those things seem to be compatible. Until they are not. Like our dear brothers and sisters in parts of the world where they face fierce persecution and martyrdom at the hands of Islamist jihadist groups or oppressive governmental regimes. But in the developed world, where we have the entire base of human knowledge available to us in a few clicks and same-day delivery, the conflict is far less clear to us. The Church in the West has assured folks that they can live two lives: “You can have Jesus, and you can have a wonderful life! In fact, this is God’s will for you!”
It is not true.
Of course your Father is a good Papa, and he loves to bless his children. Absolutely.
But there comes a time in your life with him that you will have to choose God over everything else ... for the rest of your life.
Every saint, mystic, and friend of Jesus through the ages will tell you so. Jesus has told you so many times in the Gospels. We have parables like the ten bridesmaids, the sower and the seed, the man who wanted to store up wealth in bigger barns. We have blunt statements by Jesus like this one: “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
I just looked up that verse online (there’s the Internet life we all take for granted), and as I was reading, little ads perfectly targeted to my shopping habits kept flashing at me. How much more blatant of an example do we want? I’m on a Bible website for heaven’s sake, and still the message sneaks in: Sure, you can have Jesus. And, you can also have all these little niceties that make you feel better!
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Jesus said that too.
Want More? Order your copy of Experience Jesus. Really. today