SERIOUSLY SUMMING IT UP

³³ “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple. ³⁴ “Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it’s useless, good for nothing. “Are you listening to this? Really (SERIOUSLY) listening?”  LUKE 14:33-35

This whole week has been about SERIOUS COMMITMENT (Forsaking All (I Trust Him) and the reality is for each of us, each day we have to make a decision:  WHO ARE WE DOING THIS FOR?  THIS could be a multitude of things.  It could be your husband, wife, kids, your bosses, your pastor, yourself......but the prayer I have for each of you...is that you are doing it for Jesus Christ!   

The truth is your boss may never be pleased with you.  Your spouse may continue to overlook your every effort.   Your kids....they are kids aren't they......they may take your for granted until you breath your last breath (I really hope not) ............ But GOD is not a performance based GOD, He is effort & heart based.  He wants to know you seek to please Him, to Glorify Him in your relationship with others. 

Salt is a preserver, a flavor enhancer and even an antiseptic.....are you any of those things in the many circles you run in?  Do you preserve relationships with being kind, loving, and understanding that people are people and they will make mistakes, hurt your feelings, and even disappoint you?  Does your very presence at work, church, community, and in the home ENHANCE the overall atmosphere simply because of the Christ in you...or do you keep your head down, and drive into your garage never interacting with others?  Are you able to clean out a wound a hurt by eradicating the bacteria of gossip and filthy talk by helping guide the conversation towards healing?  

If you don't do any of these things......are you REALLY GOOD FOR NOTHING?  SERIOUSLY?!!?!?  If you are reading this.......that means GOD sees you, saw you as GOOD FOR SOMETHING so much so you have been gifted today......so BEING HIS DISCIPLE MEANS you have to SERIOUSLY make the FIRST thing FIRST.....serving Him! 

The MASTER chef has planned on sprinkling you all over the place today.....LGLP

Seriously Count? YES COUNT UP THE COST

For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? ²⁹ Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. ³⁰ They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

³¹ “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? ³² And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. ³³ So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.  Luke 14:28-33

Before you begin any project count up the cost, or it will cost you....SERIOUSLY!  Every been stranded on a road trip because you're out of gas and money?  Chances are probably not....because you plan, and you make sure you have even extra if you are wise.   Jesus tries to get us to see that there is a COST to discipleship and it's a cost we must SERIOUSLY consider.    He gives the example of a builder who begins a project only to possibly not have enough finances to complete it, as well as a king who enters into battle without making sure he will be successful. 

Pictured above is a rendition of the Genesis 11 construction of the Tower of Babel.  The people of Babylon had gotten out of hand thinking that they could show God how intelligent they were.  So they began attempting to build a "tower" that would reach up into heaven.  Not the heavens....but HEAVEN the residence of GOD.   Now I know what you are thinking......."THAT'S STUPID RAY, who would do something like that SERIOUSLY?"  Well before we get to far off.....what have you tried to prematurely show your own parents that you could do without them, or their counsel?  That later ended up costing you?  What are you trying to show GOD, right now.....that you don't need Him, His WORD, or the fellowship of a healthy small group or church?

See if we aren't careful, we WILL, HECK WE ALREADY ARE IN SOMe CASES, begin building buildings (our own little kingdoms), going into to battles (legal (divorces, law suits)or verbal/physical altercations) without asking ourselves are we willing to pay the cost, or can we even cover the cost? 

So think about it....SERIOUSLY....are you trying to show GOD how big & independent you are?   What will that cost you at the end of your life?  The people that began building the TOWER of BABEL never completed it and it stood as reminder to them don't try to trump GOD.  Are there job, lives of ex's, and other edifices you called yourself building that now are reminders to you......YOU NEED TO COUNT THE COST BEFORE _______________________ (fill in the blank).  I'm not telling you what to do.....but I am reminding you that there is a cost for EVERYTHING you choose to do, but one of them has a HEAVENLY PAYOUT!   LGLP

SERIOUSLY: CARRY WHAT?

And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

You know we carry a lot of things.  We carry our weight and issues there of (whether you are overweight or very slim someone is criticizing you).  We carry hurts from our past.  We carry hang-ups that literally keep us on the hook, and it makes us difficult to get off of it and move forward.   We even carry habits that  make it harder for us break free....but all of these things don't amount to cross.   

See the cross is not your co-workers, and your issues with them.   Your cross is not your marriage.  Your cross is not your (jalopy) car.  But rather your cross is your instrument of persecution.  Contrary to this whole NAME IT AND CLAIM IT, COMFORTABLE, NICE LOOKING CROSS AROUND YOUR NECK,  HAPPY MEAL CHRISTIANITY culture.......carrying the cross of CHRIST is painful.  It's humiliating...and like the picture it's hard.   It's what pieces of you, that need to be crucified so that you may be Christ-like to that spouse, or to your neighbors or whomever it is that need to know the love of God.   In order for anyone to be saved, someone has to be sacrificed.

Carrying your cross means that you will find yourself dying to yourself daily.   This means that part of you that likes to flip people off, curse people out, deceitfully lie, cheat on your taxes, cheat on your marriage and obligations in relationships, that don't fellowship after church, that backbites and gossips, that seeks comfort over the needs of others, that complains more than you encourage, that figures out ways and reasons why not to sign up for ______________________ to serve God/His church NEEDS TO DIE!

Christ gave up the comforts of heaven to give up His life so that we may have ETERNAL LIFE.  Simply put, what are you giving up and for who are you doing it for?  CARRY YOUR CROSS on your BACK, not around your neck.  LGLP

SERIOUSLY: HATE WHO?

²⁵ A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, ²⁶ “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:25-26 NLT

REALLY?  HATE everyone else.............wait for it..........by comparison.  Is there an aunt that's your favorite?  What about a niece or nephew that you are willing to keep anytime, over another one?  Let's be honest....we shouldn't, but we all have our favorites.  We love all of our family members (well some of us do) but there are ones that just really bless your soul to be around.  If you are as blessed as me.....I love my inlaws, they are terrrific, but in comparison to my love for Jesus...no comparison.  Just like that favorite aunt, uncle, or whomever.....Jesus is not calling us to Hate anyone, but He's trying to distiguish where does He fit, rank in your life.

When you compare your love for Him, to your love everyone and everything else is pales in comparison.  WHY?  Because being His disciple will cause you to have to choose His ways over your own ways.   Being His disciple will put in positions to where YOU WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE between going to church/small group/Bible Study or staying home because no one else believes in Jesus Christ and your faith.  Being His Disciple will cause you to choose Him/His Ways or continue to recklessly date/party with your lost friends. 

See Joshua had it right (24:15) when he said to his people, " Choose today, who you will serve...." because it's a choice everyday.   You have been gifted today....and GOD desires that He'd be the choice of who you will actively choose to serve.  That when you leave your home you will choose to glorify Him on the job (Colossians 3:23), as well as every place you go.  Now it won't be easy, you will have this desire to please you, and seek your comfort, but being HIS DISCIPLE will mean you saying " Forsaking All I Trust Him" (FAITH) where you are demonstrating your faith in all of your decision making.  So......how will you choose.........LGLP

SERIOUSLY??? Is anyone following you?

²⁵ A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,.......(Luke 14:25)

Jesus' name was and had rapidly spread through the middle east, and people wanted to meet, hear, and experience what it was about this man that captivated his audiences.  What and how did people end up healed of__________________.   As depicted in the above picture there was a large crowd following Him, and what He's about to say, well......it wasn't political.   It wasn't what you'd want to hear or say that would increase your followers....it really was, counter cultural.   But before we get into what HE SAID (and we will later this week) I want to focus on following, more importantly.....WHO's FOLLOWING YOU?

Each of you have been strategically placed in relationships with people, and I'm wondering who's following you, and if anyone.....WHERE ARE YOU LEADING THEM?  See in a day and age where your popularity is gauged by how many friends you have on Facebook, or how many people you are following or are following your tweets on twitter I can't help but wonder where are you leading them?  Where your posts are evaluated by (well yourself) how many likes or how many comments you have.......one can only wonder where is all this leading and and where are you leading them, since after all they are following you?

What are you leveraging your popularity or bandwidth of influence for?  Do your co-workers (and surely all of them won't), neighbors, family members, old friends ask you about your faith or where do you attend worship services?  Do people feel so comfortable around you they tell you about THEIR problems seeking some advice?  Do you give them your OPINION or the WORD?  Believe it or not.....somebody is following you.  It could be your kids, your aged parents, your students.....somebody is watching, possibly admiring you so as your leave your home, post on Facebook, tweet on Twitter......although Charles Barkley tried to tell the world "he is not a roll model", SERIOUSLY you are for somebody, good, bad, or indifferent you are.  It's the way the Master set things up.

Remember the MASTER has given to each of us according to our abilities, and He's coming back to reconcile His accounts with each of us, so simply put.....have you invested into the lives of whom He's intrusted to you, and where are you leading them?  My prayer is you are leading them by loving them back to JESUS, which will eventually land them at the fee of the cross.  LGLP

Children & Youth Are Kind of a Big Deal: The Blessing

¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.  Mark 10:15-16

I remember pictures like this from my Sunday school books, peering into the faces and eyes that were filled with hope as this strange man, called Jesus seemed to care about this diverse group of kids.   This picture is a depiction Jesus blessing the little children, and my question for you is simply this......How valuable is a blessing over your child, to you?

In a time where children were being slain because of their parents religious affiliations, or discarded because they were girls or deformed, or because they were looking for and attempting to annihilate the Christ child......getting a blessing over flesh of your flesh was a BIG DEAL.  But that was then......this is now.  Again how important, how BIG OF A DEAL is it to you that your children receive a blessing? 

A blessing is the marking of divine favor, protection from evil, a setting apart/consecration of something or someone and if this is your desire for your child......at what lengths will you go to insure your child has this?   Will you bring them to church?  Will you do a devotion in your home with them? Will you teach, challenge and train your children for the battleground, not just for the playground?   Will you sign them up for children/youth ministry?  Will you encourage them to go on mission trips and camps?  If we're all honest we all desire a blessing, even those that don't want to have nothing to do with GOD, JESUS, or religion we want special favor resting upon our lives. 

The people of Jesus' time had to travel miles, through treacherous terrain, and sometimes kids had to be hidden, risking everything just insure and secure a blessing.  What is asked of you today though, isn't even a fraction of this risk......but it will cost you......a devotion to GOD, and you being committed to their future.  LGLP

KIDS/YOUTH are KIND OF A BIG DEAL:REALLY?

¹⁵ People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:15-17

My memories of church were quite the portrait of this young man in this picture.  While all the adults seemed to be engaged (at least the ones that were actually up) me....well....I as dreaming of Wrestling at the Chase, sitting at home eating a cold bowl of Fruity Pebbles or Captain Crunch.  If I am honest, my brother, sister and myself HATED going to church. Getting dressed into stuffy clothes, to sit on hard wooden pews, and listen to someone yell at, sing through, and panting through a message was not my idea of time well invested.   I look around and if a kid wasn't squirming in there seat they were knocked out cold......because the messages weren't for us.  There was no children's church.  There were no children's camp.   There were no children's workers/volunteers that were purposed there to bring the WORD alive to us.

Between my mom/grandma we were forced, dragged..made to go to church...which made us dislike it the more because it seemed that no one cared we weren't feeling connected to the events there.  We actually tried to be disruptive so that they would not make us go, but that backfired.  In today's scripture the disciples probably was thinking children, babies, etc don't have a place in the church since their understanding is limited, and so are their attention spans so they were rebuking the parents for even bringing them...much like we rebuke parents who bring babies to a movie theatre.

But Jesus saw things differently.  Jesus loved the little children, all the little children of the world......" and he rebuked the disciples and told them don't refuse them access to him, and don't hinder them for the kingdom of GOD belongs to them.  I was fortunate, actually my brother/sister were too that a seed of faith was planted in me/us at some point, because of me/us being forced to go to church, but there were some that were allowed to stay at home, or come and go directly to sleep that today....aren't connected to GOD.   See if kids aren't fed the WORD of GOD, and introduced (on their level) the relationship to get to know Jesus there may not be a church of tomorrow once we die.  This post modern culture came from somewhere.....and I trace it back to those parents who failed to connect to Christ, and since have denied their children CHRIST.  

My prayer is that beyond the doors of the church what are you doing to help/hinder your children?  Are you praying together with them?  Do they even know what prayer is and the importance of it?  Are they in a youth group, or do you need to start one at your church?  No matter how big, or resourced stocked your church is......they are watching you, and you are the model.  I pray you aren't hindering their spiritual   development, but rather walking with them.  LGLP (especially his children)