Sunday, November 07, 2021
What it means to be a disciple of Jesus?
I visited HTBB again today, and as you enter the main hall there is a huge wooden cross on the right side of the pulpit (see above photo). I would certainly struggle to carry that wooden replica from a prison cell to a hillside called Calvary. It looked darn heavy, and yet it is not dissimilar in size or weight to what we see in movies of the crucifixion and the cross that Jesus had to carry.
Today’s sermon was “What does it means to be a disciple of Jesus?”.
The preacher said “It is to choose Jesus over everything”, to deny ourselves and the flesh. Sounds simple right? In truth it is that simple... but in practice....aheemmm...
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).
Notice the key words; desire and life. Whoever desires to save his life will lose it says Jesus.
To keep one’s life, it is not just continuing to live in outrageous sin and refusing to acknowledge Him as the Son of God. To lose one’s life is not just forgoing Sunday activities and going to church. It is about submitting to His will.
The Lord over time will break us so that we will surrender our soul-life to Him. Along the road I find that we will mix a life in the soul and the spirit. We will live for God but also for ourselves. We serve God but also with our own motives. We live by faith yet also by our feelings. We may be governed by the Spirit, but also by our souls. Let’s be honest. This constant conflict is a perpetual struggle (at least for me anyway).
In the matter of desires it does not mean we should harbour no ambitions, and have no desires, but rather to seek His kingdom first. If it is in His will, He will then fulfil our own desire (Ps145:19). Ambitions are usually self-centred; while visions are Christ-centred. I am now finding that if I allow the cross to work deep enough in me, my desires will come to be in line with God’s desires naturally. There are a lot of things we do not desire as we used to. .What was a pleasure a few years back has become a burden.
Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). That is past tense and reflects our position in Christ, but are we living up to that status experientially?
Are you willing to be a (true) disciple of Jesus? Are you willing to carry your cross and follow Him?
Each of us have our own unique cross to carry. But most are willing to follow Him when the going is easy and good, when it suits their desires, when we are comfortable and there is no major sacrifice. However, when the cross comes demanding that we crucify our soul-life with our own desires, we are hesitant and refuse to go on the cross. A faith that suffers nothing, lose nothing is usually worth nothing.
Only God can build in us a spiritual life of rest, peace and of purity. As the old popular hymn echoes in our spirit…
And I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown.
We may lose everything soulish, but in the process gain everything spiritual and eternal.
