Sept 4, 2016
How many of us have said yes to a commitment without
thinking it through very clearly, without really weighting the costs involved,
then found out it was more then you bargained for? Example, joining a social group like the
Lyons club, joining a religious group, church, getting marriage, having
children, or taking on what seems like a lifetime mortgage.
Well here is a question for us to consider this
morning. When you made your commitment
to follow in the ways of God, what unexpected costs did you discover?
Sept 4, 2016 Jeremiah 18: 1-11
Psalm 139 Luke 14: 25-33
Often we committee ourselves to a
cause or organization without really weighing out the costs involved personally
especially when it comes the commitments of time and to be a responsible
participant. We are all programed with a
need to belong and often have not really considered the commitment we are
actually making in order to belong.
Today’s scripture readings are
really all about surrendering to and the costs involved in making a commitment
to follow in the ways of God. May I suggest that when we make the commitment
to follow in the ways of God, God must become the center piece in our lives? In the metaphor found in Jeremiah this
morning in order to be molded and shaped by the potter, first we would need to
surrender ourselves as does the clay completely to the potter’s creative
hands. This is one commitment that even
the most faithful struggle with, letting go and letting God direct your life. We must learn to let go so God can mold and
remake us. It was then and still is
today all about the commitment to a way of life that was taught by Jesus to the
people of Judea both Jew and Gentile. How to live in the world but not of the world.
Part of the cost of becoming a disciple
for Christ is to become a server at the table of the love feast not just a participant. We graduate from being a pupil to become a teacher,
teaching others not just by words but by being the example, putting teaching words
into actions. The message is clear folks,
there are costs attached to following Jesus and becoming one who is committed
to God’s Way. Let us take a critical
look at what our commitment entails.
May I suggest that John Calvin born in 1504 provides us with a classical
resource that can help us come to terms with our commitment to follow
Christ? It is broken down into 4
disciplines.
1. The discipline of
self-denial: This particular
perspective or biblical understanding for self-denial has often been missed
interrupted and miss used over the centuries. May I offer this perspective to consider? How many of us like goodies, or have a sweet
tooth as we sometimes say. Many of you
know mine. Without the discipline of
self-denial for many of us, indulgence would have no cap. Indulgence is not bad, but without self-denial
our sweet tooth could lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and many others
unforeseen problems. Without self-
denial there would be no reason to limit or to stop as indulgence turns into
blind stupidity, entanglement, bondage or even worse addiction. Over indulgence always leads to
desensitization. Without the discipline
of self-denial we become selfish, self-centered, even self-destructive. Our human nature can over power our spiritual
nature, as we become desensitized to vulgarity, discernment, indecent behavior,
poverty, killing and war. Self-denial
becomes for those who practice this discipline a great sense of freedom-from. Self-denial does not mean that we deny
ourselves the basic pleasures and needs of life, but it does require us to
think about how we treat our bodies, and respect of self, neighbor and our natural
environment. To share and not to hoard
or accumulate for ourselves any amount of excess. This
is not only good for us, but also good for our neighbor and for the planet. If you have the wisdom to see this truth then
self-denial offers you a freedom that no other discipline can offer and it is
part of the cost of discipleship.
2. The discipline of Cross bearing:
Here again, we may have
missed this particular perspective of the biblical meaning of “pick up your
cross and follow me” Often in the early
church and even today suffering was and is often self-inflicted. People of religion often tormented their
bodies with such as self-flagellation or extreme fasting almost to the point of
death. Our religion is rooted in the
idea that we must suffer like Christ in order to get into a closer and more
intimate relationship with God or Jesus.
Self- inflicted suffering and pain
is not what bearing you cross is all about folks. In fact Jesus debunks both animal and personal
sacrificing within his teachings about servant-hood and unconditional love. There is no cost in being accepted by God, God loves us regardless of our foolishness. God
wants the opposite for us, our bodies and our health are sacred gifts to be
cherished and respected not sacrificed. Our scriptures tell us our body is the temple
of the Holy Spirit and not to be abused.
Bearing Your Cross according
to John Calvin’s interpretation of scripture is simply the ability to retain your faith, while the storms of life are raging
all around you. Remember when Paul
was in prison with his companions, they sang praises to God even though the
threat of death was knocking at their door, in fact praise and gratitude are
miracle drugs that stop fear from taking over your mind. Cross bearing here means nothing can steal
away your faith in God or in His Son not even death itself. No one escapes the hardships and difficult
circumstances of living, be it by accidents, losses or tragedy. We must learn that suffering here means no
matter how bad it gets, we never give up on God’s saving grace found through
Jesus the Christ. For those who have
faith the Cross does not symbolize suffering and death folks, it is all about
God’s amazing love and saving grace.
Bearing your Cross means never to allow bad circumstances or despair to
steal away your hope found in Christ Jesus.
3. The discipline of
meditation: The mystery of an after
life is not something we can fully understand or even comprehend but by meditating on the words found in our
scriptures, the promise of resurrection will become your reality. All the self-help books and the advice of new
age thinkers, will not sustain you if you cannot make the connection between
their wisdom tips and the truth found within our scripture. If the connection is not there, may I
suggest, beware false prophets folks. By constantly trusting and refreshing our
faith through the words of scripture and meditating on Jesus’ life, death and
resurrection, it strengthens our faith which in turn helps us to bear our
cross.
4. Proper use of God given
talents and gifted-ness. Our
giftedness and talents were not mean to be horded or used only for self-interest
or worse evil purposes.
We were meant to be good stewards
of our personal resources and the resources of our natural world. Here we could
learn much from our aboriginal brothers and sisters. This discipline for the affluent
and corporate society, can seem to be very costly and difficult to find a
balance in life, especially where the demands of corporate profits and
shareholders are involved. Our human
nature wants us to inventive and be progressive. Our spiritual nature wants the same but not
for profit at the cost of others or for selfish interest. There is a cost to discipleship but for
those who have chosen the way of Christ, the benefits outweighs the cost every
time. I guess it leaves us with this question: Are you a fan of Jesus or a follower?
"This is no Sacrifice, here's my Life"
"This is no Sacrifice, here's my Life"
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