All of us are making sacrifices in life. We are willing to make those sacrifices in order to have and fulfill whatever we are pursuing in life.. To some they make sacrifices for their:SatisfactionSignificanceSecurity

But the question we really need to answer is.. Are the sacrifices you are making leading you to the right direction and right destination? Is that pursuit really worth sacrificing for and even to the extent worth dying for?

ILLUSTRATION - by Eyriche CortezIn one of the games in a classic Rose Bowl football contest in 1929, as recounted by Dr Bruce Wilkinson in his Vision of the Leader seminar, Roy Riegels desperately wanted his team to win. The scores were tied.

Now, in a crucial moment of that game, Roy Riegels scooped up a loose ball. He cut in and out of traffic, eluding tacklers with breath-taking athleticism. He sprinted the distance of the field. He ran 70 yards. But he was tackled one yard shy of the goal line… by his own teammate.

Why?Roy Riegels lost his bearings and ran the wrong way. For the rest of his life he was not known for his remarkable athletic abilities… he never escaped a reputation as Roy “Wrong Way” Riegels.

That’s why Dr. Bruce Wilkinson wrote:

“Run with speed. Run with power. Run with determination. But ultimately, all that

matters is the right destination.” The only pursuit that will lead us to the right direction and right destination is the pursuit of glorifying God!

Any pursuit in life regardless of how humanly good and noble it is, if not done for the glory and the pleasure of God will only be a waste because its impact will only last here on earth.

Mark 8:36-37 (NLT)36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is

anything worth more than your soul?

1 John 2:17 (NIV)17 The world and its desires pass

away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

What is the will and pleasure of God?

Please take note, not the wills of God but the WILL OF GOD

To make it simple and straight, God is telling you, If you want to make the most of your life (your sacrifices, your hard work.. etc..) from start to finish then you have to be..

CONNECTED WITH JESUS IN

FAITH

John 6:27-29(NIV)27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God

the Father has placed his seal of approval.”28 Then they asked him, “What

must we do to do the works God requires?”29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has 

sent.”

To get connected to Jesus means you have to make Him the..

Hebrews 12:1-3(NLT)12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by

such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows

us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance

the race God has set before us.

Hebrews 12:1-3(NLT)2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.

Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the

hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

To get connected to Jesus means you have to make Him the..

Person of your obsession Hebrews 12

2 fixing our eyes on Jesus

Your obsession will dictate your priorities and will make you overlook the sacrifices you take. When you realize that Jesus is the only priceless and endless treasure you will ever have, you can never afford not to make Him your obsession.

Philippians 3:7-9 (NIV)7 But whatever were gains to me I now

consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of

knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them

garbage, that I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:7-9 (NIV)9 and be found in him, not having a

righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith

in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

To get connected to Jesus means you have to make Him the..

Power for confidence Hebrews 122 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and 

perfecter of faith

Life will be filled with uncertainties and challenges that are beyond your control and you need confidence to overcome them. Confidence comes when you know you have the power to overcome even the impossible. Christ has power and authority over all things. He has supremacy over everything therefore He should be your only power for confidence in life. He becomes your power when you let go and Let Him direct your life.

1 John 5:4-5(NLT)4 For every child of God defeats this evil

world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle

against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

To get connected to Jesus means you have to make Him the..

Purpose for LivingHebrews 122 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and 

perfecter of faith

Purpose gives us direction and helps identify what we should and should not do. Living with a purpose will enable us maximize and utilize our potential without burning out in life. Only Jesus can give us that real purpose in life.

Matthew 11:28-29(NIV)28 “Come to me, all you who are

weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle

and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

To get connected to Jesus means you have to make Him the..

Passion of inspiration

Hebrews 122For the joy set before him he

endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who

endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and

lose heart.

Any sacrifice needs an example for inspiration. We all need somebody to look up to who faced adversities and yet overcame it. Jesus is the ultimate Inspiration that we can have. He suffered the punishment of our sin that should have been ours. He faced the shame that should have been ours.

Yet, He overcame them because He wanted You! You are the Inspiration of Christ. You are His obsession in overcoming the pain and death. Make Him your inspiration by continually remembering what He had to undergo just to bring you back to Him.

Yes in pursuing Jesus, we will be called to make sacrifices, we will be asked to let go, we will be opposed and we have to persevere just like any pursuits in life but the BIGGEST and ONLY difference is the END RESULT… Only the Pursuit of Christ has Eternal Value.. The rest are temporary…