From the little that I have read of the Bible, I feel that God wants us to live our life focused on him, his ways and his plans.
I think that by nature, man is self centered, and we Americans have taken this to new outrageous levels, “you deserve a good job”, “you deserve a decent place to live”, “you deserve health care”, “you deserve Better”,”You deserve Happiness”…YIKES! Deserve Happiness!!! Why have we become so spoiled? How did we end up expecting that life is supposed to be some idyllic walk in the park?
It seems, in the old testament, God struggles to get the Israelites to remember him and all he had done for them, he promises them comfort on earth if they will just center their lives on him.
In every way, Jesus asks more of us than the Father did in the old testament. Jesus was an Israelite and he was talking to Israelites, preaching to the choir as they say, he and every one in his audience knew the old testament backwards and forwards, their upbringing required each of them to write down their own copy of the first 5 books, another one of Gods little devices to try and get them to remember and focus on him.
Does Jesus ever say, “don’t bother worrying about centering your life on the Father anymore”?, I think they knew he was asking more of them. One of my wife’s favorite gripes is “now I have to love my enemy!” But there is also “Love thy neighbor as thyself”. Wow, that sure is a statement about the nature of man and his love for himself!
Jesus promises more, eternal life, but he promises nothing on earth but persecution.
How do we convince Americans, who have spent every waking moment whining that they aren’t comfortable enough or happy enough, to center their lives on God if all he promises is persecution????? And of course, more importantly, how do I convince myself? 
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