Shame On You

The other day, Ryan and I decided our marriage needed a mission statement. This may sound weird and nerdy, but actually, it can been a very good thing. Whenever we have big (or small) decisions to make, we can look at them in light of our mission statement, and it will help us to see the bigger picture and remind us of our goals in this life.

Anyway, as we discussed what our goals in this life were, I recalled something God had taught me after we first moved to Texas...

Our story about how we got to Texas was a great testimony of God's work, but I had two different versions I would tell: one was told to people I knew were believers, the other to those that weren't, or that I wasn't sure about. This way, I figured, I wouldn't "offend" people or make them uncomfortable talking about God's miracles and His provision in impossible situations. Basically, I filtered my speech when I wasn't around people that I knew loved God.

After realizing that I was filtering out the best parts of our story, the parts that would glorify God, I was convicted that I needed to tell just one version of the story: the whole story. So I told God, "Okay, next opportunity, I won't filter it." Soon, I was telling the story to someone I had only known for 5 minutes, and this time I left in the parts about God's work in us. Amazingly, she didn't react negatively, and I developed an awesome friendship that God used to grow both of us spiritually. It still remains as one of my strongest, most cherished friendships.

So as Ryan and I discussed what we wanted our focus and goals to be, I knew that part of our mission statement should be that we make the most of every opportunity to share God's love with anyone we meet, and not let any fear filter God out of our speech. After reading Jesus' mission statement for His followers, I am again reminded of this goal...

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels."

How to Follow Jesus

Imagine hearing these words the first time Jesus spoke them: "If anyone would come after me, he must..."

Oh! Good! He's giving us directions on how to be a Christian! He's going to spell it out! How many times have I wanted clear-cut instructions on how to live...

"...deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

Oh. Wow. That's not quite what I expected... So you are saying each day I need to walk like I'm willing to suffer and die?

"For whoever wants to save his life will loose it..."

So no more self-preservation? No more saving face? No more walls of protection, safety-at-a-distance, "I don't want to get hurt"?

"...but whoever looses his life for me will save it."

That sounds extreme... but enticing, somehow... Complete abandon, complete surrender, and a willingness to loose everything. Ouch. Can I really live like that? (God, give me the strength!)

The other option is to loose my life in the end, despite all my efforts to preserve it. Futile living. So the self-preservation route doesn't end with all my dreams coming true, happiness and security, no bumps in the road, and everything like I want it to be? Wait a sec... who on this earth has ever had that kind of life? Seriously... a pain free life? Is that what I think I can achieve? Is that really an option here on this earth? What a lie!

The moment we opened the door for sin to enter, pain entered. So I need to face the fact that "In this world, you will have trouble." (But take heart! Jesus has overcome the world!) I need to stop thinking that I can safely stay in my little bubble of protection and comfort and everything will be alright. I must deny myself (fast, pray, serve, love), take up my cross daily (even when it hurts), and follow Jesus.

The Son of Man Must Suffer

Something I've always puzzled about is when Jesus warns people not to talk or tell others about things that He's done or who He is. Why? Don't we need to share Him with others? So I think I got the answer in today's reading...

"Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.' "

There needed to be an atmosphere of rejection and suffering in that area because Jesus' main purpose in His life on earth was to suffer and die! Obviously He didn't try to hide Himself, or His power (feeding over 5,000 people with one lunch is a pretty news-worthy item). But for some reason, certain things and certain times, Jesus wanted people to stay quiet. If too many people believed He was the Messiah before He suffered and died, maybe those people would have tried to stop Him from fulfilling His most important goal... and so doing what they thought was good at the time -- saving Him from the present suffering -- would have caused them to loose out on the tremendous, powerful, awesome gift that came through the suffering.

So that's why Jesus then tells them: " 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will loose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.' " and oh, please keep reading!!

Who Is This God?

If anyone's been keeping up with reading through Luke, you may be further than this, but I'm now in chapter 9... sorry about not posting anything -- no internet access for over a week now.

Here's some of the highlights for me from the last few chapters:

Blessings and Woes
It is comforting to know that having needs (being poor, hungry, sad -- not necessarily because of physical needs) is a good thing... only because we know we can and will have something greater that will satisfy those needs. And can you fully appreciate being satisfied if you haven't really experienced hunger? So woe to those that don't "need" anything...
This passage also helps me see the wider view and not get so wrapped up in the present.

Judging Others
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged."
"Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned."
Enough said. But He says even more wonderful truths... read more.

Wise Builder
He practiced what he heard...

Soil
Pray for good soil!

This Little Light
Not really clear on all of it, but this part jumped out at me: "Therefore consider carefully how you listen."

And then there's all the wonderful stories of Jesus' miracles... I found myself repeating the disciple's reaction to Jesus calming the storm: "Who is this?"

There was nothing He couldn't do... the limitations of the natural world, and our thinking, were blown to bits...

"For nothing" -- NOTHING -- "is impossible with God." Praise Him!!!