Serving Rascals, Clumsy Disciples, and Physically and Mentally Ill Believers with the Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ
Very funny, but when I first saw it, I felt convicted. I remembered the many times that I was a jerk about my faith, and very annoying to many. I don’t want to get self-critical (that is spiritual quicksand) but I’m blessed to know all my sins have been forgiven, and my “good works” are not held against me.
Luke 9:59-60
Considering this whole passage must bring us to the place of seeing God’s Will as supreme. He asks for a complete and comprehensive obedience. We can never entertain a lesser commitment. Following Jesus, as His disciple will radically alter our priorities and change our relationships. Irrevocably.
There was a negotiation of sorts taking place. This would-be disciple was trying to be reasonable. His heart appears to be already in harness. Being Jesus’ disciple was what he really wanted. But, there was this slight problem, it really seemed logical and definitely prudent and sensible.
Yet Jesus doesn’t negotiate with him. He does not accept the argument of reasonability and propriety. The call to walk out discipleship requires a whole-hearted, full-bore dedication to Jesus Christ as Lord. Everything must be adjusted. And nothing is ever the same.
Have you dictated to Jesus what is reasonable? Are you adjusting discipleship to your own terms of what is appropriate? This particular passage in Luke 9 has implications to us today. A rock was thrown into the pond, and the ripple is still being seen and felt. Simply put, we are being called to authenticity. We cannot reduce discipleship to fit our personal desires.
Will we adjust? Will we sell out to the Kingdom’s supremacy? To be a concert violinist requires intense effort and commitment. A professional athlete takes his training to a level that is unbelievable to the average person. Both have a dedication to their calling. Can we just assume that something less is considered to be a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Please re-examine your thinking. I certainly do not want to condemn or judge. But I am afraid that we are using discipleship without considering what that really means, and we entertain a definition that somehow defaults to an acceptable level. Are we really that willing to undergo an adjustment that is nothing less than radical transformation of our faith?
–Matthew 5:13, NIV
In the Middle-East, salt has a real impurity problem. Comparing it to what you have on your table would be foolish. There is simply no comparison. The idea of salt degrading to non-salt was expected. It just didn’t measure up. Jesus in declaring that His disciples were “salt”, was taking a risk. Could His followers remain distinctive in a virtual flood of antagonistic hostility?
Salt has a challenging destiny. It must remain distinct while preserving everything around it. That is not easily done. Salt has an inherent savor that makes it very distinctive. As a Christian there exists a distinction and a uniqueness that differentiates one from the world about him. I have become different because He has made me distinct. We dare not think that we are believers simply because we are exceptional.
Jesus warns that we can dilute ourselves into a state of self-imposed obsolescence. We simply compromise ourselves to the point of losing any distinctiveness. We just become a non-entity, by choice. We basically zero ourselves out and allow the World to roll over us, all without a squeak. In this case, compromise is disguised as flexibility. We betray our Lord with a soothed and bandaged conscience.
Jesus stated that saltless salt would become a non-factor, an anachronism of devastating loss. It would no longer be able to ally itself as an agent of change, but be as common and as ubiquitous as common dirt. Lo, how the mighty have fallen! To be regarded as common dirt.
Warned of this outcome, we find ourselves in the unique position of needing to be authentic. Authenticity however, directs us down the path of irrevocability. We simply find ourselves in a corner, and we have to come to a decision. Will it be faithfulness to Christ or compromise to soothe our conscience? Trust me, it is easy to compromise.
Jesus boldly declares that His real followers will come through. They will believe in Him to the point-of-death. We have been given the blessing of both time and space to make our decision. We, ourselves have been caught in the valley of decision. Can we be able to make a choice that becomes a real spiritual difference?
PLEASE, do not continue to compromise. Do not vacillate and attempt to call it enlightenment and adaptability. You are salt, and you will be different. Let the world go on without you. You don’t belong anyway.
I love gadgets. Those veritable wonders of technology. Typically overpriced with a short lifespan, but they still amaze me. I saw something a few months ago that clicked with me; it was incredible. (But I can be a real geek sometimes.)
It was a platform, made to look like a classic varnished wood tray. But what it was, was a charging station. You laid all your iPods, cell phones, Blackberrys and Androids on this pad, and in the morning they would be charged and ready to use. No need to plug them in, they were instead were juiced by lying on this special platform.
I’m not certain that this constitutes one of life’s necessities. But a few days ago I began to think about the spiritual significance of this, and how we receive our strength. It’s not really often that this happens to me.
The Apostle John was one who was energized with his contact with Jesus. He drew strength from being in close proximity with Him. If there was ever a discipleship challenge it was John–one of the “sons of thunder”. Full of energy, he could be vindictive, intolerant, self-righteous and very ambitious. He was confronted by Jesus on more than one occasions for arrogance. And yet, he was perhaps the man most transformed by being with Jesus.
John stood at the foot of the cross, holding and soothing Mary. He went on to preach several notable sermons in the Book of Acts (with Peter). He wrote much of the New Testament, including Revelation. His books of 1, 2 and 3 John are known for the subject of Christian love. Ten times he told early believers that they were to “love each other”, and that would be their mark of authenticity.
Something happened to John. He was energized by love for Jesus, his Savior. We see him at the Last Supper, leaning on his Lord. It appears he just drew close, and rested his head on his friend. He became known, as “the disciple that Jesus loved”. I believe that love very often begets love.
As a struggling and imperfect believer myself, I find that when I’m near Jesus, I become strong. Psalms talks about “the nearness of God is my good.” Christianity is different than other world religions in that it is built on a living (resurrected) Lord who we are to be in communication with, and to have an ongoing relationship with. There should be a deliberate and planned intimacy between God and believers.
Its a lot like that charging station I spoke about earlier. I come to Him, and rest, just enjoying His presence. Something happens. I am encouraged and energized. Leaning on Jesus I become strong. Being in close proximity with Him gives my Christian life a vitality. I get drained, and functioning isn’t possible (I try). I get the urge (like John) to call down fire from heaven on my enemies, and then push myself into the limelight to be noticed.
Dear one, I beg of you to draw close to Him today. Get into His presence, just be with Him; and all of hell will try to stop you. But Jesus has promised that “He will never leave us, or forsake us.”
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–Psalm 73:28
Broken Believers 