Read through the Bible in 2 years: Exodus 32

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.” And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.

And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

Exodus 32:26, 29 ESV

Who is on the throne of my heart – Me? My husband? My children? My parents? or the Lord God?

What do I live for – My own comfort and pleasure? The praise of man? Wealth or fame? or the Lord God?

Like the sons of Levi, I have been ordained for the service of the Lord. I am a member of the Lord’s army. I am a member of the priesthood of believers. What will it cost me – Time wasted scrolling through Facebook? A relationship that is pulling me away from the Lord? Worldly pleasures and pursuits?

Whatever your commitment to Christ might cost you, let me encourage you with this: He is WORTH IT! True joy will never be found in your phone or a plateful of brownies. True appreciation will never come from that sinful relationship. True happiness is only found in the arms and at the feet of Jesus, Your Lord and Your Redeemer.

Heavenly Father, You did not send Your Son to bring peace to the earth, but a sword. There will be division even within our own households. Let me not love my mother or father, my son or daughter, even my closest, dearest friend or husband more than you. Give me strength to take up my cross and follow You. Make me willing to give up my life for You. Help me to know that true joy is found only in Your arms and at Your feet. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Redeemer I pray. Amen.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.”

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 10:32-39 ESV

Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;

The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

From Psalm 16