Falling short . . . again

Exodus 7; Job 24; Luke 10; 1 Corinthians 11

Luke strings together several stories about Jesus’ activities. In looking for a common thread, several things caught my attention:

First, Jesus sent out workers with instructions: take only the essentials, what to do if people received them, and how to respond to those who rejected their message about the kingdom of God. For the last two, He said:

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)

Second, Jesus told His workers not to be too excited about their ability to do what they had been doing. Their challenge to the enemy and their authority over his demons was wonderful but He said to them:

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19–20)

Third, Jesus also spoke to the Holy Spirit about His revelation to His followers. He knew that some knowledge comes by experience, but the knowledge of God and His Son is revealed, and that revelation is not given to everyone:

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” (Luke 10:21–24)

After that, Jesus then told the familiar story of the good Samaritan to a lawyer who tested him with how to inherit eternal life. Jesus gave this man the two greatest commandments, but this expert in law hedged by asking who the neighbor is that he must love. Jesus made it clear that the love He was talking about was unconditional regardless of the person who receives it. Those who love like this pay no attention to customs, rules, the other person’s status, or any other excuses that would keep them from offering love to everyone, even enemies.

Finally He went to the home of Martha and Mary and Luke tells another familiar story of Martha’s distraction over serving and Mary choosing the “best thing” — to sit at His feet and listen to His teaching.

Reading these raises questions about my own life. Does having people reject or accept me mean that they will do the same with Jesus? Or am I more concerned about being accepted than how they respond to Him?

Do I reject (this word means to separate myself from) those who reject the message God gives me? Or do I get cold toward them because they have not listened to me, making this an issue about me instead of their eternal well-being and their attitude toward Jesus?

Is rejoicing over my salvation far more important than God giving me power over my spiritual enemies? Do I let God-given victories become a reason to boast rather than rejoicing in a salvation that gives me nothing I can boast about? Is my identity in my accomplishments rather than who I am in Christ?

Am I delighted to know Him by revelation — such an amazing gift? Or am I more interested in knowing Him by my experiences, walking by sight rather than by faith?

Can I love my enemies? This is challenging. I know another Christian who is so repulsive physically that I don’t even want to stand near him. I am not loving toward at least one neighbor. Are there others?

Do I choose the best thing? Or does my to-do list keep me from listening and learning from Jesus, from putting myself in a place where His truth is more easily revealed, understood and obeyed?

Application for all this is painfully obvious . . .  

We serve a Living Savior

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers says our biggest snare is “taking the pattern and print of the religious age we live in (and) making eyes at spiritual success.” He calls it spiritual wantonness.

The pattern of success in this world is bigger, better and more. Full churches, big crowds, many souls saved. The higher the number, the more esteem. However, Jesus says something different about rejoicing in the power and ability to serve God. 

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:19–20)

As God’s child, I need to measure my “success” by God’s grace toward me. I cannot fill churches or save souls. In fact, the Bible is clear that Christians cannot “save” anyone. This is the work of God. Instead, we are told to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:18–19).

Making disciples is not a commercial venture. Literally, this verse says, “as you are going, or as you move through life, make disciples.” It didn’t take me very long to realize that this cannot be done without the Holy Spirit. It is a work of God. “Soul winners” are mere gloves on His hands, tools to do His will.

This, and any other work of ministry begins where God’s grace lays a foundation. Salvation and spiritual growth happen because of God’s sovereign grace. Christians are to teach others what He has taught us until together our lives are totally yielded to God. As Chamber says, one life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit.

The proof of this “one life yielded” is in Jesus Christ. God claimed an entire nation as His children and gave them a mandate to glorify Him in the world. They disobeyed and did not accomplish their task. Then God gave one person, His Son, a far more difficult task. He sent Him to die for the sin of the world, the sin of all mankind for all time. Jesus did it. As He yielded His life on the cross, He declared, “It is finished” meaning that our debt for sin was paid.

Yet at that point, to the world and even to His disciples it appeared that Jesus failed. His short ministry touched many lives, but what good is a dead Savior? How can a corpse save anyone from sin? In confusion, the disciples scattered. Then they discovered that the tomb was empty. Hope rose in their heart. Jesus was alive.

The resurrection is key to Christianity. If Jesus is dead, we have nothing to believe. Paul knew this would be an issue when he wrote these words,

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12–19)

Without the resurrection, there is no point in “soul-winning” or making disciples. Why ask anyone to follow a dead man who promises life if He Himself does not live? This would make Christianity senseless.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

This chapter in 1 Corinthians answers several questions about the resurrection, then at the end links it to the ministry God has given His people.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (over sin and death) through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:56–58)

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Jesus, because you live, I live also. Your eternal life is my eternal life. For that reason, the work that You gave me is not about ‘success’ in this world valued by using superlatives. Instead, it is about being steadfast, immovable and faithful. It is knowing that whatever I do in Your name and by Your leading has eternal value.

Your obedience to Your Father never matched the standards of success that the world looks for, but by Your obedience all Christians in all parts of this world celebrate two things this Easter day: You died for our sin — and You rose again to give us eternal life! Praise God — it is finished and You are alive!