I have found three areas of my life which become challenges to my loving Jesus to the fullest. These three areas are loyalty, commitment, and living my life for him. These three areas may affect you or you might find areas which are more of a challenge.
In sending out the twelve disciples, Jesus gave them a set of qualities for discipleship.
“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:37-39
Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples to evangelize the area about him. He has prescribed certain things they are to do and he says those who are willing to profess him before men truly will be professed before the Father. The opposite of acknowledging Jesus is to be disowned or not acknowledged. Jesus tells us he will divide families which is the most basic of human relations. Why would someone who is to bring us to salvation by his death divide families? The basic reason is that faith in Jesus Christ divides just as it is the gospel which offends and not the person sharing it. Loyalty to family cannot come at the expense of Jesus Christ for the disciple to be seen as worthy. This is not a rejection of obligations for even James tells us to not care for family makes us worse than a heretic. But there will come a time in which the demand of the gospel of Jesus Christ will take first place. Then to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ means more than a casual feeling for him, but an extreme love at the sake of man’s basic relationships. In other words, you profession must balance your practice.
The actual death by the cross occurred in several stages. First the convicted criminal was given the cross member to carry through the streets. A sign of the charges for which this now condemned prisoner had been found guilty was hung around the neck or carried by someone in front of the person. Once the crossbeam was placed upon your shoulders death was inevitable and there was no right of appeal. Once the person was nailed or tied to the cross and the charges nailed to the cross, the mocking and ridicule by the crowds would be a part of this sentence which could last for days. By receiving Jesus Christ, we in a sense commit blasphemy and idolatry against the god of this world and therefore become hated and persecuted and face a penalty of death without appeal. I accept this penalty because to be worthy of Jesus I too become an enemy of this world. I contend with others like myself who have also been condemned by this world in order to love Jesus and so we contend together.
The challenge of living life is determined by who or what I am living for. In other words, what is you purpose here on earth. Many would believe like the late Malcolm Forbes that acquiring things is what life is all about. Matthew does not use the usual term for life, zoe, but used the term for soul-psyche. This means they are to accept and follow the guidance of another and follow the teachings or alter opinions to those of the teacher. The determination of the life I am living is to know what fulfills me. The person who believes they have found the purpose of life will actually lose it. This would not have escaped the disciples for it was the word for judgment. However, to the one whose life was turned over or lost to self would find life. Those who seek life not only lose it but finally will see the futility of the struggle as they are judged and face eternal punishment. Both are rewarded for their efforts. Both have earned it by their losses.
While the rabbis taught that the disciple was dependent to the master in obedience it still allowed the student to deal with personal interests. But Jesus has elevated being his disciple to the highest—above family, above other commitments and now above seeking out your desires for life.
I am reminded each new day to renew my mind to these three areas in which to serve and love Jesus. Walk worth brothers and sisters and remain committed to Jesus. Give away your life and gain life.
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