Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Matthew 16:24-27
“God calls everyone: sick and healthy; people with outstanding talents and those of lesser ability; those who are rich and those who are poor; the young, the old, and the middle aged. Each man, each woman should be able to discover the particular path to which God calls him or her. And he calls us all to holiness, to generosity, to detachment, to self-giving. To every one of us, He speaks in the depth of our heart: come, follow me. We cannot give a lukewarm response to Christ’s invitation. He has no use for disciples who are half-hearted, who place conditions on their discipleship.”
Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 3 (London: Scepter, 1990) 435-436.
This word “conditions” in today’s reading really stuck with me. If you missed it, read it again.
And in reading Matthew’s Gospel this morning, I noticed that just before challenging the disciples to follow Him without conditions and to deny themselves and take up their cross, we hear this warning.
Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. With that statement he was saying to beware of their teachings.
The Pharisees had a grip over the people that served their own purposes. It seems that Jesus wants us to watch out for voices that aim to control or manipulate us. He wants our devotion to God alone.
This reflects a devotion without conditions and willing to do whatever God commands.
What does your service look like? Do you work at your job because it’s comfortable? Do you serve there because you like to control the conditions and make things to your liking?
Today, is day 16 of my trip. It’s a beautiful new day here with the sun shining brightly (see view from my hotel room).
I am thankful for my supportive wife, Jenni, back home and for God’s grace which sustains me. Three people asked me yesterday, “Where does your boundless energy come from? I replied, “My daily office with Jesus.”
I preach two times in Seoul today. Pray for an outpouring of God’s Spirit on me and all who listen.
Tomorrow, I fly all the way back to Denver. Pray for safe and uneventful travel. Thanks.
And whatever you do, remove any conditions to your discipleship. Those who try to save their lives will lose them. And only those who loves their life for Christ’s sake will find it.