Read Matthew 16 online here.
In Matthew 16, two different groups of people come to Jesus with questions. The first group of people look good, smell good, but are spiritually bankrupt. These Pharisees and the Sadducees come to Jesus to “test” him, asking Him to show them a sign. They come with a hidden agenda. Jesus takes their question, but refuses to answer them. He refuses to fall into their trap. He calls them a “wicked and adulterous generation.” He leaves them and goes away.
The second group of people maybe doesn’t look so good or smell as good. But they are spiritually rich. They are called disciples. They hang out with Jesus day and night. They walk with him, eat with him and spend their time getting to know him. Getting to know what he likes, doesn’t like, and what he thinks and feels about the seen and unseen world. They, too, had questions for Jesus and Jesus revealed himself to his disciples then and he reveals himself to his disciples now.
Jesus tells his disciples to deny self, take up (your) cross, and follow me. What does that look like for you and me?
Paul W. Powell, in The Complete Disciple, described this condition:
"Many churches today remind me of a laboring crew trying to gather in a harvest while they sit in the tool shed. They go to the tool shed every Sunday and they study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and then get up and go home. Then they come back that night, study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and go home again. They comeback Wednesday night, and again study bigger and better methods of agriculture, sharpen their hoes, grease their tractors, and get up and go home. They do this week in and week out, year in and year out, and nobody ever goes out into the fields to gather in the harvest. copyright © 2005-2008 bible.org
As we read through the book of Matthew we see Jesus as King. He is not a King who “Lords it over” his kingdom or who doesn’t get in the trenches with the masses. But he is a king who serves God, his Father. And he is a king who serves the masses, the people.
It’s perhaps easiest to live our lives like the disciple described by Paul W. Powell. To never step out of our comfort zone. But for today let’s deny self and take up our cross. Let’s spend time with him. Serve Him. Help a child come to know him better. Give a hand to a shut-in or a single mom even though it’s out of your way. Talk to the person in the next cubicle about the Christ in Christmas. Ring a bell for the Salvation Army. Will you and will I become not only hearers of the word, but also doers of the word? For today let’s think, act and be a disciple of Jesus.
Today's article written by Julie.
2 comments:
Julie -
Thanks for the call to action. I think that while important, we probably focus too much on the denying self and cross carrying, that we never get around to the following part. If we don't "leave the building," we're no good to anyone. We will never be put in a position where we can make others a priority or help carry their burdens. Being a true disciple of Jesus is a choice, a process and a journey that should take us to some of those places you mentioned and more.
Excellent points to consider Julie. Thanks for speaking to the difference between academic discipleship and applied discipleship, I frequently find myself backsliding into the comfortable confines of academia, rather that shouldering the cross and being the servant my Savior has called me to be. I am blessed for the wake up call. YBIC - Aaron
Post a Comment