Aligning Expectations

 

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”   Luke 9:57-62 (ESV) It seems that Jesus is trying to discourage people from following Him, when, in reality, He is giving them an opportunity to align their expectations with reality. False expectations lead to trouble and give Satan a plethora of opportunities to discourage and destroy. Jesus is the truth and will only speak in terms of what is true. When we align our lives in the light of what He has said, we will not be disappointed. We may be persecuted, hated, maligned and even killed, but we will not be disappointed, for the truth has set us free.

For now....

 

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.   Luke 9:51-56 (ESV) Rejecting Jesus is foolish. Yet, so many times we focus on places that keep life’s purposes blurry. “Oliver Cromwell’s men just before the battle used to look at their general, and whisper to each other, “See, he has on his battle-face.” When they saw that set, iron face they felt that defeat was impossible. Determined striving towards one point is the best way of gaining that point. Try to walk in a straight line over a field of snow, keeping your eyes fixed on the ground as you walk. When you look back on the track, you find it far from straight. Walk over the field again, this time keeping your eye fixed on some definite point ahead. That will keep you in the straight line, and will save you from fruitless wandering on this side or that. Jesus, keeping the end of His work in view, set His face towards it. So should we do with our work.” (Sunday School Times.) For now, our focus is our choice.

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We were put here to...

 

“An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”   Luke 9:46-48 (ESV) The disciples were arguing who was the greatest while talking to the Greatest. This idea of greatness or significance seems to never really be settled in our lives. The problem with the idea is that our significance is often tied to minimizing the significance of those around us. In order for us to be very important, my family and friends need to be less important. The Bible makes it clear that all people are different, and that different does not make one better or worse. God uses the illustration of the body to show how important each person is. As it would be ridiculous to have my elbow and ankle arguing about which one is more important, it is ridiculous when people begin to argue about who is most significant. We were put here to love God and each other. We were not put here to give someone the opportunity to be impressed by us. Those who attempt to find significance at the cost of minimization of others have no hope of finding significance themselves.

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He Understands

 

And all were astonished at the majesty of God. But while they were all marveling at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.  Luke 9:43-45 (ESV) Jesus, the creator and sustainer of the universe, the great communicator, failed to communicate here. Really, it was not Jesus failing, but it was the disciples not putting what Jesus was saying into context. It was a big deal that the Son of God was going to allow those He created to persecute Him. If the disciples really understood what Jesus was saying, they would have been astonished. However, as is often the case, the disciples did not want to look dumb, so they did not ask Jesus to help them understand. One of the best responses people can have to a confusing situation is to ask the one who seems confusing to help them understand his/her position. When we pretend to understand, we lose. Jesus is the only one who always understands, and His understanding is always correct. When He says something we do not comprehend, we need to spend time pondering it, not ignoring it, if we want to live in truth.

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Methods, Schemes or God?

 

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.  Luke 9:37-42 (ESV) God’s work is not accomplished because of our methods. It is accomplished because of God’s mercy, grace, power, and purposes. Evil is not scared of us, but it is terrified of God in us. We need focus on God, His will, and His ability, instead of our methods and schemes. In the end, God wins, and we will if we let Him fight through us.

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Today we live here!

 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.   Luke 9:28-31 (ESV)

This is miraculous to man, but normal for Jesus. We act as if those who have died are non-existent. Jesus knew that Moses and Elijah “were available” so to speak, at least to Him.

Today, all those who went before us are doing something. This includes Moses, Elijah, Joseph, Daniel, Noah, and more. We may not know what they are up to, but they are up to something. Being absent from the flesh does not make them absent from existence.

Today we live here. Tomorrow we live ____ ? The choices we make today will affect the ____ ?  Enjoy God and each other, today and forever.

Joy in Purpose

 

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?"    Luke 9:23-25 (ESV) Denying self is easier said than done. For some reason, we keep thinking that the world was created for us, and we are right, however, it was not created because of us, by us, or for us exclusively. God is the creator; I am the created. He created because He loves, but His love is not dependent upon my love. He wants me to be included in His plan, but He does not need me to accomplish His plan. God made me, and therefore I have a distinction about me that indicates a plan and purpose. I can work my entire life trying to control the people and circumstances around me and end up frustrated because I eventually realize that I can do neither. My only hope of joy comes in accomplishing the purpose I was created to accomplish. Therefore, that needs to be my life focus.