Deuteronomy 17:20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

I had a dream last night. I was standing outside and I looked up and the clouds formed the face of Jesus. An arm and a hand extended from the clouds and there was this golden light moving in the form of the hand and I was lifted up. Oh the joy, the exhilaration, the anticipation of the moment, I was about to see my Lord in all His Glory.

Then He said to me, “When you help the children with math, give them a coke.” Then He put me down and I was let down. Troubled for a meaning I searched the scriptures until I found an answer. The answer is the opening quote.

When I feel the presence of the Lord about me, I am like a kid in a toy shop. The world goes away and my total focus is on Him. I am elated. The problem is, He isn’t there for me, He already has me. There are people, His children, that have problems and needs that can be satisfied. They have no way to connect to me, my heart is somewhere else, lifted up. I have no way to feel them, my heart is the Lord’s.

He set me back to serve His children. That is not something that I should feel lifted above. I cannot serve when I am disconnected. I have to be in the moment, I need to focus on you, feel your needs and serve you. This is my commandment, which I should not neglect.

Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

When I read this verse today my first thoughts went to the movie “Taken” with Liam Neeson. His daughter was taken by flesh peddlers to be sold to the highest bidder. He did everything within his power to get her back and he did. She was powerless to save herself, much like we were powerless to save ourselves. But we are saved, right?

Let me point directly at the words of 1 Corinthian 10:13 that will shed some light for understanding. I do not change or alter in any way the words, only isolate them. Those words are “no temptation taken you”. Let us be clear here, temptation cannot take you. It is a distraction, the bait set by sin, but has not and cannot take you. It is not the same thing as being caught up in a sin. That is a whole different matter.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Christ proved it is not a sin to be tempted. You have an out. You have a choice, you have not been taken. You have taken your eyes off the prize which is your calling in Christ.

To quote my old drill instructor, “Eyes forward mister!!”