Proverbs 4:25
Let your eyes look directly ahead, and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
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One of the seemingly most effective ways that the devil has to attack a believer would have to be distraction. We have been told that we are supposed to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. {Heb.12:2} Solomon writing to us all as a father to a son continues on saying that we must not turn to the right or to the left, the only turning we should do is to turn away from evil {Prov.4:27} and diligently and continually looking at the Lord to become more and more like Him.

I am reminded of a time recorded in the gospel while the disciples 'hunted' for Jesus and found Him while 'everybody' was looking for Him and yet did not find Him. {Mar.1:36-37 NASB} Hunting requires a person to be dedicated and diligent, very focused, while just looking can be, and usually is, very casual. Being a disciple requires, actually demands, a far greater commitment powered by a far greater love!

Jesus said that if anyone desired to be His disciple they would have to love Him more than any other person, even their own natural family, and more importantly more than themselves. They would have to be willing to bear their own cross. He said that if we are truly to be His disciples we had better count the cost. {Lk.14:26-28} A disciple must have a Master! An anathema here in the United States, the 'land of the free' where the vast majority of people are actually enslaved to their own desires! The true family of God, us, should all rejoice in being called bond-servants of Christ just like Paul did.

That is why I for one so greatly dislike the fact that so much of the church today has replaced the words 'disciple' and 'master' and now continually refers to 'mentors'. The word mentor comes from Greek mythology when during the Trojan War Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, appointed a man named Mentor to tutor and advise his son Telemachus while he was away at war. An advisor suggests, a Master commands! And let me tell you after studying the Word for quite some time now I have found very few (if any) suggestions from the Lord but a significant amount of commands! Every word of Scripture is God breathed and profitable bringing life and instruction, training in righteousness, just as the apostle Paul, a bond-servant of Christ, wrote! {2Tim.3:16}

Consider this verse from Isaiah 54:13, first in the King James Version: "And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord (YHWH); and great shall be the peace of thy children.” And now consider that same verse in the very popular Message bible: "All your children will have God for their teacher— what a mentor for your children!”

On that day that I leave this mortal coil, as William Shakespeare’s Hamlet called our life on this planet, and come face to face with Jesus, my Redeemer, the lover of my soul who shed His blood for me I have faith that I will be able to come in to His presence and hear these words:

"Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:21)

COVERED BY THE PEACE, MERCY AND GRACE OF OUR GOD