TO HAVE LIFE WE MUST GIVE IT AWAY
Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25
There are many calls to discipleship throughout Scripture. I will cite just a few examples because of the circumstances of the call, the manner of the call, and the reaction of the one called.
CALL OF MATTHEW
The first one is the call of Levi, the tax collector whose name was later changed to Matthew. When you encounter the Lord your name is often changed, .Simon/Peter.
And he saw tax collector and said follow me. Matthew points at himself with the expression-Who me? Leaving everything behind, he got up and followed HIM
Do we ever ask God if He got the wrong person, Who Me! OR DO WE FOLLOW ANYWAY?
BLIND BARTIMAEUS
As Jesus was leaving Jericho, he came across a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. The beggar when he heard who was passing by kept calling out, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you.”
Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see. Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:50-52
Why did Jesus ask the beggar what he wanted from him? In prayer, Are we specific in telling God what we want? Do we persevere in that prayer?
ZACCHAEUS
Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over. Jesus said to him,
“Today salvationc has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:1-10
DO WE CHANGE WHEN WE ENCOUNTER JESUS? HOW SO? ARE WE LOOKING FOR CHANGE WHEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS?
We are all familiar with these kinds of stories in the Gospels where once confronted by Jesus that person gets a sense of healing, physically/spiritually…a movement towards wholeness… THEY leave whatever state they were in…. to follow Jesus down the road…along the WAY. We may stumble along the way but Jesus is there to pick us up if we only ask,
As followers,(imitators of Christ) we share with others as Jesus did.-love our enemies, forgive that we may be forgiven, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, be merciful that mercy will be shown you… The only thing we take with us when we die, is what we have given away….so leave that suitcase behind…
JESUS’ DISCIPLES BEARING GIFTS FOR OTHERS
One teaching of Jesus I always had trouble with was giving my life away that I might have life. It’s my life, isn’t it? Don’t I have the right to live it as I want? I do have free will, after all. The choice is mine. What about my choices? Choices have consequences.
There is both an Ego drama and a Theo drama being played out. One is my plan (Ego drama) the other is God’s plan for bringing me into excellent existence. Life is a gift from God. God has a plan and purpose for my existence.
Do I stick with God or do I separate myself with sin. Uh-Oh, No sins allowed in heaven. Be holy as I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16 Well, I better begin now to become what God envisioned when he breathed life into my soul and body if I want to end up there for all eternity.
To have Heaven and a share in Divine life I must set aside this world, its pomp, transient glories, and passing pleasures. I must help the needy and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35