COmmitment Day Four

Following Jesus

During the times of Jesus, a student would follow his teacher, or rabbi. It would be a very personal relationship, and the rabbi would expect to have intimate knowledge of the student's life. It was meant for the student to be able to grow, learn, be encouraged, and also be held accountable. Take a moment to think about that relationship and what it would entail. If you were a rabbi, what type of commitment would you require of your student? Let's say you were responsible, really responsible for their learning. Your name was on the line, and anywhere that student went, they would be known as a student of yours. Would you require an hour a week? Two? A full day? Or, would you expect that you would be in constant contact with them? You would want them to be able to reach you anytime, to sit and listen when you talked, and be receptive to correction. Makes sense, right? You can't be a student if you are not willing to be a student!

Ok, now, contrast and compare that to your walk with Jesus. Take a moment here. Do you read Scripture daily? Are you spending time in prayer, both asking and listening? Do you serve your community? Do you love your neighbor? Do you honor your wife and kids? Are you at the feet of your Rabbi? Do you enjoy being with Him? Or, like many, your attendance is one day a week, for a couple hours, typically on Sunday? Is that the commitment that Jesus said we must have? The gift of salvation is free, but does it come without commandments? Too often we are told that following Jesus is simply repenting, asking for Him into your life and "box checked." That is what is sold to many, every single Sunday. But is that really it? Jesus said we must take up our cross daily. He said the world will hate and scorn us. He said that you may lose your life to follow Him, but you gain eternity with Him. He also commanded us to go into the world, sharing the Gospel, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teach! Jesus freed us so we can in turn help to free others by sharing His message, your testimony!

Paul talks about how we need to grow from being babies that are fed milk. We are expected to grow in Christ, and you can't do that in two hours a week. James tells us that a faith without works is dead. Following Jesus is a commitment, a lifelong one. There is no retirement in following Jesus, until the race is won. It may be today you need to commit to reading Scripture daily, and then, do it. You need to sit at His feet and listen to Him. You need to spend time, like Jesus did, speaking to the Father. This is a big commitment and one that many churches these days won't require. They don't require it because it is unpopular, hard, requires commitment, and people may walk away. I'm going to say something bold and widely unpopular here, "So?" If following Jesus were easy, the New Testament would have said it was "easy" and would have focused on "happiness." It didn't and it isn't. If it were easy, all but John wouldn't have been martyred. Jesus wouldn't have needed to go to the Cross. The commitment to being a Christian means following Jesus, and being there for others following Jesus. It means using Scripture to uplift, and also correct. It means to love each other, but also share Truth. Why? Because Jesus said so and demonstrated so. He not once shared His Love without sharing the Truth. He Loved us enough, committed to us, to be willing to tell us the Truth. We shouldn't be surprised when people walk away from the faith, they walked away from Him.

The world is full of Sunday Christians. Maybe that is offensive to you. Maybe you have a list of excuses why that is the case. I challenge you, right now, to really think about the commitment we have to Christ. Is there anything in the NT that indicates two hours a week is enough? That an occasional prayer is sufficient? I submit to you, it is not. Follow Jesus as a student follows a rabbi. Let Him speak to you daily. Read His instructions. Heed His commandments. Why? Because when you committed to being a Christian, this is what you signed up for. And when you follow Jesus, you will find the commitments you have to your wife, and children, become clearer. It becomes a commitment to serve, to sacrifice, share His love, and constantly grow in Truth and wisdom. Commitment means a relationship between two parties! Jesus did His part, are you willing to do yours? Is your commitment to the Lord, or is it to a church that only requires you show up once a week, and hopefully give some money? Which one is found in Scripture?

I say this all as somebody who continues to learn about his commitment to Christ. None of us are perfect, but before we can grow, we must acknowledge truth. This may seem harsh, bold, mean, etc., but I tell you, I say these because to love my Christian brothers, I'm obligated to tell you the truth. And, if we ever crossed paths, I'd pray you would be willing to tell me the truth!.

Following Jesus, and having a better understanding of His love for us, has changed my life. I no longer default to my own understanding, but I yearn to hear what He has to say and when He speaks, I listen and work to submit to His will. When you start to mature here, you are better equipped to share Him with others...and can we admit that the world needs Him desperately right now? Start with your own commitments, and then, be bold and share with the world!

John 6:60-65

John 15:18-27

Romans 7:14-20

Closing Challenge. Pick 4 things you can do to better follow your Rabbi and then do them.