Hold on to Jesus

Text: Philippians 2:1-18

What if we saw everything that happened to us as an opportunity to hold on to Jesus?

"Hold on to Jesus" might sound intimidating to some - and yet sound too simplistic to others.

Yet I believe it is the driving force behind everything that God allows in our lives. Whether blessings, hard times, wealth, poverty, abundance, or lack - God wants to use all of these things SO THAT we will seek him.

All throughout Scripture there are examples of this:

Deuteronomy 8:10 - "And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you."

Isaiah 25:1 - "O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure."

During a famine, Joel 1:14 - "Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord."

Matthew 6:25 - "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"

Deuteronomy 28 is the prime example. In it God lays out the blessings of obedience, and the curses for disobedience. Both outcomes - obedience and curses - are designed for one thing - TO TURN THEM BACK TO SEEKING GOD!

Holding on to Jesus isn't easy, especially in the midst of difficulty (and even in the midst of blessing!) and it will look different for everyone - but the fact remains - that whatever comes your way - you are to seek after Jesus.

When blessings come, seek Jesus and thank him for all that he has done. Then, ask him to show you areas that you are not surrendering to him, and adjust! 

When hard times come, seek Jesus and ask him for strength to endure. Then, ask him to show you areas that you are not surrendering to him, and adjust!

All of this requires time - time in the word, time in prayer, and time with other believers.

Are you taking time to do these things?

It's all about Jesus!

Mitch