Two Questions If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 How deep is your love for Christ? How dedicated do you follow? These are two of the most powerful questions that can be asked of a person who claims to be Christian. I believe that most if answered truthfully would have to say not as deep or dedicated as the Word (Christ) requires. If that is the case, then are we really saved or do we just go through the motions? It’s not a pretty thing to think about but it is necessary. Christ gave us the qualifications to be called His disciples. First, what is a disciple? The definition of disciple is: “a follower of a person or idea; somebody who believes in and follows the teachings of a leader, a philosophy, or a religion”. I gave this definition because many like to associate discipleship to being in the ministry such as Christ’s disciples were or for today’s ministers, pastors, and evangelists. But in fact it is anyone who would call themselves a Christian. Looking in the Scriptures at these words of Christ, “he cannot be my disciple” found in Luke 14:26, 27, 33, Christ said it three times and each time it applied to a different part of our life. At the end of this teaching He had literally covered every part of our walk in this world. F.B. Meyer said, “Three times Christ repeats these solemn words; and it may be that earnest men have done injury to His cause, which they desired to serve, by omitting these stringent conditions in their Gospel invitations. It is quite true that whosoever will may come and take; that whosoever believeth in Him shall never perish; that the door of mercy stands open wide. But it is equally true that the faith that saves must pass such tests as these; and if it does not, it is not of the quality which can bear the soul through the swelling billows of the river of death.” The three areas that Christ brought to light are these, Separation verse 26, Crucifixion verse 27, and Renunciation verse 33. Let’s look at them for just a minute. The separation that Christ spoke of is we cannot love any one which includes family members more than HIM. We must be willing to leave them if necessary in order to serve God. Crucifixion of ones self is to take up the cross of Christ and follow Him. This means that my will and wants are no longer in front but the Will of God. And that will likely bring trials and tribulations to our lives to endure. But not alone! Christ said, “low I am with you away even unto the end of the world”. And last, renunciation simply requires that everything we have must be totally surrendered to Him. That would cover anything from money to my socks. Absolutely nothing can be withheld from Him. If we do, then Christ is not King and Savior in our life but what we have placed in front of Him. Are we sure that Christ has everything of ours? Are we sure that all belongs to God? And if not are we willing to surrender it right now? I pray that that we remember the Gift of God, that is, Christ Jesus, the only begotten of the Father that came to set the captive free and provided us a way of escape from the death that we deserved. Pastor Tim
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 11:56:52 +0000
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