Read--Matthew 7: 24-27
Life is full of storms; and not just stormy weather. There are times of intense stress and turbulence that make it feel as if there is no calm to be found. How do we endure those storms? Do we allow them to overtake us or can we allow them to blow, to howl, and to beat against us and yet not bring us down? The answer lies in the foundation of life. In this world, we have so many options on which to build our life: our work or lack thereof, our wealth or our poverty, our social standing, etc., etc. We also have the option of building our life on the rock of Christ Jesus--a rock that stands firm even in the fiercest storm. If we compare the two foundations--Jesus (the rock) or anything else (the sand)--we see that Jesus is the only one that will last eternally. All those other things will eventually fade away or become broken or irrelevant. The world offers a foundation of glitz, the Rock offers a foundation of steadiness and peace. Which is more important to you?
I think the words of the song in this video say it best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQE5PNRLZ40
Gracious God, in a world full of options and lures and lies, you are the one true Rock. Show us where and how we might sink our foundation in you, so that when the storms of life rage, we might be found secure. We pray for those who have choosen to sink their foundation on the sand. While we pray not for their destruction, we pray they might realize that everything but Christ is but sinking sand. We pray in the name of Jesus the Rock, AMEN.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
The Cost of Discipleship
Read--Luke 14: 27-33
"What does it cost?" This is a common question, and often a deciding factor, in deciding whether something should be done, bought, etc. The natural human inclination is to examine what something will cost us before we commit to it. Generally, the less expensive something is (in terms of money, energy, or time commitment) the greater our chance of engaging it. Why is that? Why does cost play a role in our decision about whether or not to engage something? My guess is that we wish to engage that which will demand the least from us so that we might be free to engage other things as well.
Throughout the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' words consistently discourage people from following him. He doesn't want followers who are under a false illusion; Jesus doesn't want followers who follow in order to get somethign for themselves. Jesus isn't interested in huge crowds for the sake of large numbers. Instead, Jesus desires followers who have examined the demands of discipleship, the sacrifices Jesus expects, and have decided that they are willing to pay whatever price is necessary. In the first verse of this parable, Jesus says point blank, "whoever does not carry the cross cannot be my disciple". In other words, Jesus says that whoever does not wish to bear the cost of living a life of total love, of service through compassion, with the help of God's grace, cannot be a disciple of Jesus. The question for us centers around our willingness to pay that cost. Are we willing to pay the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ?
God of grace and love, enable us this day to bear the load of the cross. Grant us the grace to life as a disciple of Jesus with all the demands of following Jesus. As we do so, we pray that your grace would sustain us and remind us that we do nothing alone, but through the strength and power of your grace. We offer ourselves to your grace in Jesus' name, AMEN.
"What does it cost?" This is a common question, and often a deciding factor, in deciding whether something should be done, bought, etc. The natural human inclination is to examine what something will cost us before we commit to it. Generally, the less expensive something is (in terms of money, energy, or time commitment) the greater our chance of engaging it. Why is that? Why does cost play a role in our decision about whether or not to engage something? My guess is that we wish to engage that which will demand the least from us so that we might be free to engage other things as well.
Throughout the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' words consistently discourage people from following him. He doesn't want followers who are under a false illusion; Jesus doesn't want followers who follow in order to get somethign for themselves. Jesus isn't interested in huge crowds for the sake of large numbers. Instead, Jesus desires followers who have examined the demands of discipleship, the sacrifices Jesus expects, and have decided that they are willing to pay whatever price is necessary. In the first verse of this parable, Jesus says point blank, "whoever does not carry the cross cannot be my disciple". In other words, Jesus says that whoever does not wish to bear the cost of living a life of total love, of service through compassion, with the help of God's grace, cannot be a disciple of Jesus. The question for us centers around our willingness to pay that cost. Are we willing to pay the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ?
God of grace and love, enable us this day to bear the load of the cross. Grant us the grace to life as a disciple of Jesus with all the demands of following Jesus. As we do so, we pray that your grace would sustain us and remind us that we do nothing alone, but through the strength and power of your grace. We offer ourselves to your grace in Jesus' name, AMEN.
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