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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: THE HIGHER THE FEWER

It is easy to get lost in a crowd, just blending in and not having to do anything. Easy going with the flow. But songs are not written about the crowd. People are not inspired to go the extra mile by the people pleasers.

People that inspire others are those who are hungry for something deeper. The people that desire to climb higher than the status quo. Take the story of Zaccheus in the bible. He was with a crowd of people. We don’t know their names. They never made an impact on people to climb higher. To rise above the status quo. But Zaccheus’ desire to see Jesus was more important than blending in with the crowd.

The first thing he did was run ahead of the crowd. Then he climbed a tree so he could see Jesus. When Jesus passed by he noticed Zaccheus and told him to quickly come down, that he was going to his house. By running ahead of the crowd and climbing the tree he was given more than he was looking for, Jesus noticed him.

Most birds can fly; each one has a limit to the height that they can reach. Most are content to fly closer to the ground. But the eagle can soar high above them all. A crow can really harm an eagle if it starts an attack. But the eagle can soar high above the crow’s ability to breathe. Soon the crow has to break off its attack and swoop lower to the ground to breathe.

Many people we know can be the crowd in our lives. But we cannot allow their influence to keep us from climbing higher to get to what we desire. As Christians our desire should be to climb to the place where it is just us and the Lord. We should hunger more for God’s presence than man’s approval.

Matt 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The broad way is the crowd. Sinner’s don’t have to separate themselves and climb higher. They don’t have to seek God for deeper meaning and higher heights of understanding about God’s word.

Strait is the gate, this word doesn’t mean uncurved, but it means narrow like a passage of water between two land masses. Narrow is the way which is life and fulfillment. But many are not willing to leave the crowd.

Finding the narrow way will cost you something. It will cost being self-willed. It will cost allowing the flesh to do whatever it wants. It means having accountability to do the right thing. Walking in integrity and doing the right thing even when no one is looking.

Mountain climbers are unique individuals with a skill set to get to the top. Mount Everest is one mountain that only a few have successfully climbed. These are the individuals that had the most determination and learned skills to get them there. These people didn’t wake up one day and say, “I think I will go climb Mt. Everest today.” No, they worked out and trained their bodies to be in the best physical shape. They practiced on smaller mountains. They studied the stories of the ones who successfully climbed the mountain. Applying their stories to their own climb.

When it came time to climb the mountain, many may have started out with them, but the higher they went the fewer people went with them. The same can be said about our faith climb. The more we set aside the things of this life and focus on God and his will, the less people want to go with us. Often it means leaving them behind to find their own path.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We will never know the perfect will of God unless we go the extra mile to find out what he desires for our lives. It may mean praying more than others in the crowd. It may mean studying the word more than others. God will see that we have climbed up a little higher. He will respond with wisdom and understanding.

2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

How will we ever reach the top of the mountain if we don’t study the stories of those who have gone before us. Those warriors of faith that sacrificed and didn’t back down from the truth of God. The more we study God’s word the more the pieces fall into place. The more sense it makes.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Don’t expect the status quo crowd to be happy for you that Jesus notices you in the tree and wants to abide at your house. Many will not understand your choices. They will say this little thing or that will not keep you from being saved. That may be true, but how do you want to finish the race? Do you want to say, I have done everything in my power to surrender to the leading of God’s spirit. To quote a sports analogy, Have I left it all on the field? Or did I just do enough to get by; to just be a bench or pew warmer.

Katherine Kuhlman said, “Serving God will cost you something. To walk in his anointing will cost you something. It will cost you everything.” When we give our lives to Jesus, we need to fully surrender, giving ourselves completely to Him.

It is my prayer for you that you go the extra mile. Climb the highest mountains and do not be discouraged if the crowd gets a little thin. Remember the higher the fewer.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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