George trudged home under a starlit sky, the gravel crunching beneath his shoes, his heart still ablaze from a tent revival where he’d committed to Jesus through baptism. But as he neared his porch, his breath caught. A suitcase and boxes—his belongings—sat abandoned in the dim glow of the porch light. “Those are my clothes. What’s going on?” he whispered. At 17, George learned the cost of his faith: his parents had locked him out, rejecting him for choosing Christ. In a small town with no phones, word spread like wildfire. That night, George made a choice—Jesus over family—a decision that shaped his grandson’s faith generations later.
Following Christ often demands we decide who sits on the throne of our hearts. John the Baptizer understood this. He declared, “It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose” (John 1:27, NKJV). In John’s time, untying sandals was a servant’s task, yet he wasn’t diminishing himself—he was lifting up Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). John’s mission was to point others to the Savior, preparing hearts to receive Him.
You may not face a choice as stark as George’s, but every day brings moments to prioritize Jesus. He’s more than a teacher—He’s our Redeemer, the One who carried out God’s plan through sacrifice. When life feels heavy, pause to reflect on what He’s done for you. Consider the cross, the empty tomb, and the promise of His presence. Let that truth anchor you.
Take a Step Today
- Reflect: Spend five minutes in prayer, meditating on Jesus as your Redeemer. Ask, “Is He first in my heart?”
- Act: Write down one way you can prioritize Jesus this week—maybe it’s serving someone in need or diving deeper into Scripture.
- Connect: Share your story of choosing faith in a tough moment. Email me or join my newsletter to grow together.
George’s choice wasn’t easy, but it bore fruit beyond his lifetime. Who’s on the throne of your heart? Make Jesus your priority, and watch how He transforms your life.
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
James 4:4 says, "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?"
Have you ever considered what is implied here?
First of all, we need to address a false idea that sometimes is thrown around. This does not mean that having friends who are not Christians is somehow evil. The context is not about people but about evil desires. It's about "wars" that people wage in churches when they don't get their way.
Doing things the way the world does them means NOT doing things as God wants us to do them. James is talking about processes, corrupt, ungodly systems that can be employed to take what we want from others. It's about ungodly things in this world. If that includes people, it's about colluding with people to do evil.
But the implications of this verse are powerful!
- It's about materialism vs. trusting God.
- It is about relationships and social pressures.
- It's about our use of time and resources.
- It's about a way of living that this world has "figured out" that is contrary to living as God wants us to live.
Christianity is far more than a weekend hobby. It is a way of life that incorporates the most fundamental thinking and activities of life.
I'm Jason Sparks and I empower men aged 30-45 to overcome self-sabotaging behaviors and find purpose through a holistic approach to personal development, integrating spiritual growth, career stability, and natural healing methods. Join me on Facebook for free. JOIN
