Are You in An Entanglement With Christ?
Scripture: I Kings 8:61 - Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.
How is your relationship with Christ? Are you in a committed relationship with your Lord and Savior or are you in an entanglement with Him? Have you decided to be with Christ because it is convenient for you, at this time? Have you decided that Jesus is a good catch - for the moment? Is your relationship with Christ one of opportunity or are you fully committed to Him?
Understand that an entanglement is a complicated relationship; it is one that you happened to find yourself in but don’t plan to be in forever. To be entangled means to be caught up or twisted up in something and that something is usually not good. When Jephthah went to fight the Ammonites, he described it as being entangled in controversy or at great strife with. Proverbs 5:22, talks about a wicked man being entangled in the ropes of his own sin. Entanglements are not positive, and God does not want to share us with others. We should have no other gods before Him.
God expects us to be fully committed to Him as He is to us. He does not expect to be in an affair with us, sharing us with other suitors. He expects us to be in a marriage where we are fully devoted to Him and only Him. However, some are just in for what they can get. As long as the getting is good then the relationship is good. Furthermore, when things don’t go our way, some are ready to throw in the towel. Some prefer to go back to the life they had forgetting the mess they were in before Christ came into their lives. There is no relationship better than the relationship with Christ. God expects us to:
• Trust Him with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5-8)
• Love Him with all our heart (Matthew 22:31)
• Have faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6)
• Believe He is real (Hebrews 11:6)
• Know that He will reward those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)
• Listen to Him (John 10:27)
• Learn from Him (Psalms 143:10)
• Exalt Him (Psalms 34:1)
• Seek Him (Matthew 6:33)
• Be crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20)
• Love Him above everyone else (Luke 14:26-27)
• Not be ashamed of Him (Romans 1:16)
• Talk about Him to others (Matthew 28:19)
• Be devoted only to Him (Luke 16:13)
The relationship with God is not a complicated one. It’s not one that has to be hidden. His expectations are clear. The benefits of being exclusive to Him are clear. The relationship with God is not intended to be an entanglement, an embarrassment, a predicament, or feel like a trap. It is not one-sided. God was committed to us well before we were committed to him. God’s commitment to us is written out in His word His love for us cannot be denied.
• God cares for us (Jeremiah 29:11)
• God has a plan for us (1Peter 2:9)
• God created us to succeed (Ephesians 2:10)
• God is with us always (Joshua 1:19)
• God will not forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8)
• God’s love can’t be taken away (Romans 8:38-39)
• God has prepared a place for us to be with Him always (John 14:2-3)
• God has sacrificed greatly to save us. His love knows no bounds, it is unlimited (John
3:16, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Prayer: Father, God, I thank You for showing me what true love is. I thank You for choosing me, loving me, caring for me, protecting me, and being true to me. Lord, search my heart and remove those things that cause me to be unfaithful to you so I can be fully committed to You. Thank You for reminding me that our relationship is not an entanglement, it is not complicated because it is a full commitment for both parties. My life is a mess when I cheat on You, but yet You take me back and clean me up. Lord, thank You for second, third, fourth…infinity chances to get it right. Thank You, for loving me so much that You sacrificed Your only begotten Son so I could live and live more abundantly. In the matchless name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
(by Pat Towns)
How is your relationship with Christ? Are you in a committed relationship with your Lord and Savior or are you in an entanglement with Him? Have you decided to be with Christ because it is convenient for you, at this time? Have you decided that Jesus is a good catch - for the moment? Is your relationship with Christ one of opportunity or are you fully committed to Him?
Understand that an entanglement is a complicated relationship; it is one that you happened to find yourself in but don’t plan to be in forever. To be entangled means to be caught up or twisted up in something and that something is usually not good. When Jephthah went to fight the Ammonites, he described it as being entangled in controversy or at great strife with. Proverbs 5:22, talks about a wicked man being entangled in the ropes of his own sin. Entanglements are not positive, and God does not want to share us with others. We should have no other gods before Him.
God expects us to be fully committed to Him as He is to us. He does not expect to be in an affair with us, sharing us with other suitors. He expects us to be in a marriage where we are fully devoted to Him and only Him. However, some are just in for what they can get. As long as the getting is good then the relationship is good. Furthermore, when things don’t go our way, some are ready to throw in the towel. Some prefer to go back to the life they had forgetting the mess they were in before Christ came into their lives. There is no relationship better than the relationship with Christ. God expects us to:
• Trust Him with all our heart (Proverbs 3:5-8)
• Love Him with all our heart (Matthew 22:31)
• Have faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6)
• Believe He is real (Hebrews 11:6)
• Know that He will reward those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)
• Listen to Him (John 10:27)
• Learn from Him (Psalms 143:10)
• Exalt Him (Psalms 34:1)
• Seek Him (Matthew 6:33)
• Be crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20)
• Love Him above everyone else (Luke 14:26-27)
• Not be ashamed of Him (Romans 1:16)
• Talk about Him to others (Matthew 28:19)
• Be devoted only to Him (Luke 16:13)
The relationship with God is not a complicated one. It’s not one that has to be hidden. His expectations are clear. The benefits of being exclusive to Him are clear. The relationship with God is not intended to be an entanglement, an embarrassment, a predicament, or feel like a trap. It is not one-sided. God was committed to us well before we were committed to him. God’s commitment to us is written out in His word His love for us cannot be denied.
• God cares for us (Jeremiah 29:11)
• God has a plan for us (1Peter 2:9)
• God created us to succeed (Ephesians 2:10)
• God is with us always (Joshua 1:19)
• God will not forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8)
• God’s love can’t be taken away (Romans 8:38-39)
• God has prepared a place for us to be with Him always (John 14:2-3)
• God has sacrificed greatly to save us. His love knows no bounds, it is unlimited (John
3:16, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 5:21)
Prayer: Father, God, I thank You for showing me what true love is. I thank You for choosing me, loving me, caring for me, protecting me, and being true to me. Lord, search my heart and remove those things that cause me to be unfaithful to you so I can be fully committed to You. Thank You for reminding me that our relationship is not an entanglement, it is not complicated because it is a full commitment for both parties. My life is a mess when I cheat on You, but yet You take me back and clean me up. Lord, thank You for second, third, fourth…infinity chances to get it right. Thank You, for loving me so much that You sacrificed Your only begotten Son so I could live and live more abundantly. In the matchless name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
(by Pat Towns)
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
8 Comments
Amen! Dear Lord, thank you for loving me unconditionally!!
What an on time word!
Amen!!
Thank You Jesus for your unconditional Love & Abundant Life !!
Amen ! Sister Pat. Thank You Lord You never Leave me nor forsake me!!
Perfect message for such an entangling season we have. Jesus, Your will be done! Holy Spirit, guide us. Amen!
Yeah! A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his path
Jesus Our Lord
is "OUR INNERMOST LOVING SELF" ❤️