Motives >
Idolatry
If Jesus is going to walk the earth… and say, “If you’re not for me you’re against
me. If you don’t gather to me you scatter.” [gasp] He talks about eating His
flesh and drinking His blood and all His disciples go the other way. Jesus is
amazing. And He’s not a condemner, but I tell you, He’s truth. He says, “Unless
you don’t love less all your stuff and houses and lands and your children and
your wife and all this stuff - if you don’t love them less than me you can’t
even be my disciple.” Why? Because one
of those things will become a ruling, determining factor in your life that will
mold your identity. And it’ll determine you and how you respond to situations.
And it makes something else Lord when He is Lord. And then you’ll live from
the position of weakness instead of looking through strength and you’ll handle
situations from despair and fear and worry and need instead of the
kingdom. Come on, I preach it all the time, if things determine your joy
apart from Him, that’s where you’re hammered guaranteed. Because Satan has
found weakness and vulnerability and he’s an opportunist and he will take great
advantage of that. It’s a form of idolatry. It’s something you need outside
of Him. It’s all deception. There’s nothing outside of Him. It’s temporal and
false and unfulfilling.1
Note:
1. - Dan Mohler audio recording entitled "Overcoming" [37:00]