CC Passage of the day - Matthew 10

Matthew 10 ³⁴ “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.

³⁵ ‘I have come to set a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
³⁶ Your enemies will be right in your own household!’^[l]

³⁷ “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. ³⁸ If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. ³⁹ If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. [read chapter]

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This is seldom the picture or conversation regarding Jesus. The stereo typical caricature of Jesus is a fun loving, hippie, toga party, doped out, friendly dude who talks about world peace and everyone getting along. But, as I read this passage today I was struck by the discord and “threat” he brings to our meager little lives here. I believe that after a brief encounter with Jesus in any of the Gospels we are hit with the truth that Jesus came to change things…to rearrange the parts of our lives, our broken world. And I think we all, on the outside especially, want to see our world repaired.  However, the thought of Jesus inside our hearts and souls causes us to be put on guard.  It is always easy to see how others need to change. It is difficult and humbling to admit that we need internal help …and then begin to believe it to such a degree that we invite change into our hearts and lives!

Here Jesus is telling his followers that our love for him must be unparalleled by any other love. Jesus is boldly proclaiming himself to be the most significant, most important, and most transformational relationship any person can pursue. Think about all the money, all the time, and all the energy we spend with those closest to us…moms, dads, brothers, sisters, spouse, friends. Jesus is asking…demanding to be unequivocally on the top of the list.

And then he says this statement, “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.”  Keep in mind, when Jesus spoke these words the cross did not have the same bling appeal it does today.  As Jesus spoke, people all over Rome where being publicly and gruesomely executed on the cross. Here Jesus is pointing to the most horrific form of death as a means of showing our devotion to him. His indication is that relationship with him is so valuable and so important, the implications are so great, that we should be willing to follow him even into the very pains and tortures of the cross.  And to not be willing to do that - means we are not worthy of following him.

That is not the kind of things we hear Jesus saying in our television shows. Why not? Truly, even for me, there is something uncomfortable inside as I consider these things.  Part of me says, “I kinda like the loving Jesus.  The fun, party going, Jesus-is-my-homeboy, Jesus.” This passage speaks of something potentially painful and costly…hmmm.

Truth: Sometimes, I just want a Jesus who makes me more comfortable here and now.  Because these words that he says implies that if I really call myself a “christian” - If I say that I believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord I should be willing to pay whatever price. If I truly believe that statement is true, Jesus Savior, then why wouldn’t I? Unless of course, there is a part of me that does not believe it is true OR that is holding onto something here and now that is in competition with him.  What parts of this life do I cling to? What stuff am I afraid to lose? What other affections have become more significant than that of Jesus?

Prayer: Ask God to help reveal the “here and now” things that become more significant to us than Jesus. Confess those things and ask for Him to give you a heart that longs for Jesus above all.