Wanting to be like Jesus?

Yesterday when I prayed about revival, I had to admit that I was not really wanting it. Why not? Because if it happened, all ‘normal’ life would cease. Reading stories about what happens during a revival made me tired. Since we moved six months ago, life has not been ‘normal’ and the stress of so many unexpected events has been difficult, even if the events have been mostly a blessing. I don’t think I’m ready for what a revival would be like and the demands it would make on my days. 

Piper writes in today’s devotional about his own pity-parties and how a story of a missionary helped him. The missionary lost his wife on the way to where he would work. Alone, he walked many miles to serve people. From the hardships this man experienced, Piper realized that his desires for life’s comfort did not match the call of Christ on his life.

Normally, I do not like to feel better by comparing myself with someone who is in a worse condition. It sounds too much like the words of the Pharisee who said: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” And Jesus response was, “…Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)

However, both these stories are helpful. So are the remarks Piper makes about feeling sorry for himself over an extra meeting, an ill-timed hospital call, and too many choices. For one thing, how can I feel sorry for me about something that has not even happened — yet?

Besides that, it is easy to boast like the Pharisee or even like Peter who said, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” (Mark 10:28). Jesus was not impressed. He replied, 

“Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29–30)

The kingdom of God includes losses. The goodness of God includes great replacements. I’ve experienced many of both. How can I think that the ‘replacements’ for any future losses that would come from God with anything but great and powerful joy-filled events and experiences? The missionary’s life was filled with hardship. But God blessed him with laughter and the deep conviction that he was where he needed to be — by God’s grace.

Piper speaks of his own passion to have the mind of Christ. The Bible expresses in many ways what that means:

And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22:25–27)
 . . . .  and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27–28)
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” (Acts 20:35)

PRAY: It is easy enough to boast that I want to be like You, Jesus. It is much more challenging to consider and count the cost. I can easily be critical of others who are more interested in personal comfort than seeking Your will, but I am the same… even about the discomforts that are not happening. I’m okay with dying and going home but I’m not okay with staying here and losing everything to serve others? I want to be like You in saying and doing what blesses others, but without negatives that go with selflessness? Conclusion? You have much to do in my heart… 

What do I trust the most?

 

The devotional author tells of a woman who came to him wanting help. She agreed to accept Jesus as Lord of her life and prayed, but then would not give up evidence of her former life. She eventually said, “I guess I don’t really want Jesus, do I?”

She was like the wealthy young man who came to Jesus saying,

“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:16–22)

He wanted the eternal life Jesus offered but also wanted to keep the life he had. He was not willing to count the cost of belonging to Christ, of calling Him Lord and doing what He says.

Jesus may not ask everyone to give up their possessions, or change their job, or move to Timbuktu, but if a person is not willing to obey Him at all, then their faith is not sufficient for eternal life. Jesus is, but those who want to keep what they have do not trust that He is good, or capable, or wants the best for them.

This can also happen to those who have entered into a saving relationship with Him too. We soon find out through tests and temptations that there is much in this life that keeps us from full obedience. Others might determine such a person is not saved, but being a disciple is both and event and a process. The event involves saving faith — the process involves finding out how much we depend on ourselves and how much we need to learn that our faith is not being replaced by anything else.

The woman in the devotional writer’s story was without saving faith to begin with. She was not willing to give up what she really depended on, her sinful lifestyle. The rich young man was like that also. He wanted eternal life but not if it meant giving up his wealth, revealing what he depended on.

Christians can be sincere in their faith yet go through the process of realizing how much we can trust in our own understanding. We are told:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:5–12)

For some, this discipline and reproof is more difficult because salvation came to them after they became adults. It means unlearning years of habits based on our own understanding. For those who are relatively successful by the world’s standards, it means giving up human wisdom. It also means honoring God instead of enjoying the praise of their human success. This isn’t about the ‘big’ sins like murder, robbery, and so on, but the sins of wanting control and thinking I know what I am doing without asking God or trusting Him for direction.

If such things are heard along with the gospel, understood as the cost of following Jesus, but become a reason to anyone to say NO, the NT says: “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard.” (Hebrews 2:3) Such a person will not receive Christ or experience the discipline of learning to trust Him with all their heart.

If this happens after salvation, the discipling process will take time, but Jesus will not give up: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I know how difficult it is to learn to trust You for all things in this life, even as I trust You for eternal life. My heart goes out to those who struggle with this issue of total trust.

PONDER: Think of questions I can ask to find out what makes someone unwilling to totally trust Jesus, and ways to help them see this as a stumbling block preventing them from receiving the wonderful gift of eternal life through faith in Him.