11/07/2022
We would go hungry to feed our children, or thirsty to quench a dying friend’s thirst, but what are we willing to do without for the sake of Jesus Christ, or our Heavenly Father? What degree of discomfort would we be willing to face? Moses led the Israelites for 40 years in the desert, but would we walk a few short miles to church? Abraham was willing to place Isaac on the altar as a sacrifice, but are we willing to give our favorite suit of clothes to charity if the Lord asked this of us? Paul risked his eternal soul when he abandoned a life dedicated to following the law, and followed Jesus instead, so let’s ask ourselves what we would be willing to risk, give up, or what hardship we would endure for our faith.
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”
Philippians 3:7 ESV
Giving up our possessions is difficult enough, and Jesus teaches us this in the story of the young rich man who was asked to sell all he owned, give the proceeds to the poor, and follow Jesus. Where would we draw the line if asked? Would it be selling our car? How about our home, our our jewelry? These would be hard decisions for an earthly person, but there are things that are harder yet… could we give up the power we have accumulated in life? Could we give up our pride, and humble ourselves? Could we walk away from rich and important friends who did not believe in Jesus, and befriend the poor and powerless whose faith was full?
“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?””
Matthew 19:16 ESV
Think on this; what might Jesus ask of us that would be too much? What do we have that is worth more than eternity, our salvation, or more than that… what do we value more than God?
“Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Matthew 19:21-22 ESV
Do we feel that the young rich man was weak, but that there is nothing that would be too great for us to give up? Well what if it was more than a thing, or harder to swallow than an ideal, or the law…
We take communion and say that the bread is the flesh of Jesus, and that wine in the cup is His blood, but what if He offered us His actual raw flesh and said eat, or a cup filled with his warm red blood? Would we eat and drink, or cringe, and walk away? Where is the line we would draw? Is it at pretending we are eating flesh and drinking blood? Is it in thinking that these elements become real in our mouth, or once we have swallowed them? Or, do we say “this is too much to ask!”, and walk away? Perhaps you would rather eat a slug, a cockroach, or some other distasteful thing in their place? No? Do these things still make you want to wretch?
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.”
John 6:53-54, 60, 66 ESV
So back to what Paul said in our opening verse. He said that whatever gain he had he would consider to be loss for his faith in Jesus. Can we say this? Is it true? Jesus said it this way…
“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33 ESV
He might not ask that we sell all we own, but we must be willing to do so if He does ask this of us. He offers us bread, and wine, but our sensitivities should be prepared to eat flesh, and drink blood if asked to. Renouncing means that we are to say, or declare, that we will give up something, but we must be ready to actually do so if asked. It is more than a frivolous though, or claim, it is a pledge, or a promise. Are we prepared to renounce anything, and everything in our life that challenges God’s preeminence, or absolute superiority over us?
““You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3 ESV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ, and for all that you have given us in this life that we might give it all up for Him if asked; for only through Him can we come to you, and be redeemed. Help us Lord to give up all we have for you, because those things that we are unable to put aside become like gods to us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our one true God. Praised be your name for loving us enough to give the life of your only begotten Son for us, and allowing us the faith needed to place you above all things, everything, in our lives. Merciful are you who only asks us to give up what defines the truth in our relationship with you. You show us our limitations, and humble us by asking, so that we can see our true gods, and work to place you first above all else In our lives. Wash us clean by your grace and the blood of Jesus. Call us worthy as we stand in judgement before you. Give us new names on that day as we are accepted as you children, and given eternal life with you.
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”
Philippians 3:8-11 ESV
Rich Forbes