Half-Hearted Interest or Total Commitment?
Luke 9:20-26, 57-62
“Who do you say that I am?” First, Jesus asked His disciples who the crowds said He was, and then He followed it up with this question. It is one that every follower of Jesus needs to consider, and answer – for how we respond to Jesus depends on what we believe about Him.
After Peter responded with his confession, “The Christ of God,” Jesus began teaching what they could expect in the coming days – what would happen to Him, and what would be expected of them. To “take up the cross” was a word picture the disciples understood well, as the Romans had used crucifixion many times. Following Jesus meant putting aside their own desires and putting Jesus first – every day. For the disciples, “taking up the cross” meant suffering and death. What does it mean for you?
Jesus asks us to make a radical, total commitment to Him. Have you done so? If not, what would your life look like if you did? What would have to change? What would you have to give up? These are not easy questions, and the answers should not come without some soul-searching, but if we believe that Jesus is “The Christ of God,” they are questions that demand answers.
Losing one’s life to save it does not make much sense when taken at face value. And yet, this is exactly what Jesus tells us we must do. We must learn to look at life with an eternal perspective, rather than the earthly perspective that comes so naturally to us. This means looking from God’s viewpoint. It also means determining what is most important – the here and now or eternity. It means a reverse of the culture that we are used to – the one that says, “Look out for number one.” It means living a life based on pleasing God, not ourselves.
Jesus continued to have opportunities to teach about discipleship. On one occasion, three potential followers addressed Jesus. The first appears to have made a hasty decision, without counting the cost of that decision. The second requested a short delay. While caring for family is good, and in fact, Scripture commands us to, it cannot be an excuse for not following Christ. The third would-be follower also needed time to set things in order. He allowed worldly concerns to take His eyes off Jesus.
Jesus’ words to these “followers” confirm and reiterate the fact that commitment to Jesus cannot be half-hearted. Jesus demands total commitment from His followers.
The lesson for us? We must count the cost; we must evaluate, and get rid of, excuses we make to avoid total commitment; and we must have a singular focus on God. Then we will achieve total, radical commitment.
Register– Lessons in the BSL series for the spring quarter are being written by Laurie Register, executive director-treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union, SCBC.