John 8 brings us a TOUGH Message.   Please don’t shoot the messenger.   I am concerned as a Pastor.    Jesus says, “IF” you hold to my teaching “Then” you are my disciple.   The message is “Put up or Shut Up”.  Listen to the Truth and line up and follow and count yourself as a Christ follower, OR, Continue to live your life the way you want to, disregarding ‘all’ those things that you have no intention of following because it cramps your style.

Everyone wants the GOLD, few want to pay the PRICE to win the GOLD.  In the Word GOLD, We have the first words of the Great Commission given to us by Jesus.   He said, GO.   In it we have our focus, Our focus is on GOD, not the things of this World.   …and when we ‘CHOOSE’ to do things our way, we too are included in the word….we are DOGs.    At best, many who call themselves Christians or Disciples or Christ Followers are “dogging it.’   So step up and step into a real relationship with Great meaning.   The Christian life is a life of ‘sacrifice.’   That word goes against my comfort.

Where are we falling short?
*  Serving – we serve conveniently not ‘all in’
*  Giving – we give meagerly not generously
*  Going – we go on vacation more than on mission
*  Focus – our focus is the American Dream and not fulfilling the purpose of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, centered around GOD.

Are you mad at me now?   Jesus said, IF you want to be my disciple, ‘take up your cross daily, deny yourself and follow Him.’  It’s true, that I believe all of this stuff, but “I” did not say it.   Jesus did.    Deal with it!  Are you really one of His disciples?

John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.