“Shhhh….don’t say that…you’ll offend someone.”
Ever said that? Ever had someone say that to you?
“The words of the Lord hurt and offend until there is nothing left to be hurt or offended. Jesus Christ had no tenderness whatsoever toward anything that was ultimately going to ruin a person in his service to God. Our Lord’s answers were not based on some whim or impulsive thought, but on the knowledge of “what was in man”. If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you can be sure that there is something in you that He wants to hurt to the point of death.”-Oswald Chambers, Upmost for His Highest.
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
(Luke 9:58, New King James Version)
Oswald Chambers shares in “Upmost for His Highest” that,”Our Lord’s attitude toward this man was one of severe discouragment (referencing Luke 9:57-62), “for He knew what was in man.(John 2:25).
In John 2:23-25 (NKJV), it is written,
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. (John 2:23-25, New King James Version)
I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count how many times people have said, “Only God knows what is in a man’s heart”, and yes, yes that is very true, but as John 2:23-25 indeeds backup’s, that Jesus knew all men’s heart that He didn’t commit Himself in Jeruselem, which in a lot of ways, can make that argument ineffective.
In “The “Go” of Renunciation, Oswald concentrated on Luke 9:57-62, where a man wanted to follow Christ, but also follow the whims of the world and what he (the man) wanted as well and Christ clearly points out that we “can’t have our cake and eat it too”. If we are to follow Him (our Father in Heaven), we have to give up the life as we knew it on earth, for it will only serve as a distraction and in some cases, a block to our growth and discipleship in and through Jesus Christ.
However, as rebellious children, how often do we think our parents don’t know what they are talking about and only trying to “steal our thunder” and “spoil our fun”. Sounds pretty selfish there….
Oooo…but that is judgemental….
We seem to have reached a point in our culture that if it interferes with what makes US feel good or justified in what we are doing, it’s automatically wrong, intolerant and not to be questioned, but we have to realistically ask ourselves, are we watering down our faith and walk with our Father that we have to ask ourselves, what are we really believing and stop being afraid to ask those hard questions out of fear.
It’s like saying that we love our parents, but they dont’ know what they are talking about and acting as if, we, the children know more than our parents really do…they are just “out of touch”, not “in with the times”.
Matthew Henry Commentary shares this insight into John 2:
Many believe in Christ.
Many believe in Christ.
Our Lord knew all men, their nature, dispositions, affections, designs, so as we do not know any man, not even ourselves. He knows his crafty enemies, and all their secret projects; his false friends, and their true characters. He knows who are truly his, knows their uprightness, and knows their weaknesses. We know what is done by men; Christ knows what is in them, he tries the heart. Beware of a dead faith, or a formal profession: carnal, empty professors are not to be trusted, and however men impose on others or themselves, they cannot impose on the heart-searching God.
“……however men impose on others or themselves, they cannot impose on the heart-searching God.” Isn’t that almost another word for bullying?
It’s easier to peer pressure everyone around us so we dont’ feel bad (remember the old adage, Misery loves company.”), than it is to stand out in the crowd.
Oswald Chambers shares about Luke 9:58,” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
(Luke 9:58, New King James Version)”, that “These words destroy the argument of servince Jesus Christ because it is a pleasant thing to do.”
The image that Luke 9:58, brings up, is of our Father’s Son finding NO place to rest His head.
Why’s that?
Rejection.
We live in a feel good society where “individuality” almost means conformity. We all dress in the latest fashions, listen to the same music, read and subscribe to the same pop culture and to stand out is to be “weird” or “defiant” and “an issue”, surprisinging not to oneself but to what other’s are comfortable with.
Yet, as Luke 9:59 shows us, we have mixed loyalties where we often find ourselves putting our loyalty out of worrying what everyone else thinks and feels and in the process, putting our Father in last place, because it’s not “popular” or we “worry it will offend”.
Ever stop and think though, what is the price, the long term price of worrying about offending.
It’s like subscribing to the peer pressure to do something that down in our hearts, we know is not right, only to pay for it later, not because we were worry about what was right, but we were more worry of looking “uncool” or “bad to others”.
Chambers, shared some haunting words,”The exacting call of Jesus has no room for good-byes; good-byes, as we often use them, are pagan, not Christian, because they divert us fromt he call.
In Luke 9:61, the verse that Chambers referenced to, it is shared,” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:61-62, New King James Version)”
Basically, what Jesus says is,
“Here is one that is forward to follow Christ, but seems to have been hasty and rash, and not to have counted the cost. If we mean to follow Christ, we must lay aside the thoughts of great things in the world. Let us not try to join the profession of Christianity, with seeking after worldly advantages.Here is another that seems resolved to follow Christ, but he begs a short delay. To this man Christ first gave the call; he said to him, Follow me. Religion teaches us to be kind and good, to show piety at home, and to requite our parents; but we must not make these an excuse for neglecting our duty to God. Here is another that is willing to follow Christ, but he must have a little time to talk with his friends about it, and to set in order his household affairs, and give directions concerning them.
He seemed to have worldly concerns more upon his heart than he ought to have, and he was willing to enter into a temptation leading him from his purpose of following Christ.
No one can do any business in a proper manner, if he is attending to other things. Those who begin with the work of God, must resolve to go on, or they will make nothing of it. Looking back, leads to drawing back, and drawing back is to perdition. He only that endures to the end shall be saved.
Trouble is…when we follow His Call, that also will mean making unpopular, un-cool choices and dealing with rejection, harsh criticisim, jeers and yes, even harassment.
No one said it was easy and it’s not supposed to be.
Chambers reflected about Luke 9:57 was, “Our Lord’s attitude toward this man was one of severe discouragement,”for He knew what was in man” (ref.John 2:25).
Chambers continued, “Imagine being so cold to him and turning him away so discouraged!”
As Chambers said that, think of how like today’s world’s attitude is that?
“You hurt his/her feelings”.
“Oh that is intolerant”.
“Don’t offend/or don’t be offensive”.
Yet Chambers continued,”Never apologize for your Lord. The words of the Lord hurt and offend (emphasis is mine) until there is nothing left to be hurt or offended. Jesus Christ had no tenderness whatsover toward anything that was ultimately going to ruin a person in his service to God.”
This brought to mind Jesus at the temple. Remember that story? No, well here it is:
45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”
47 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him. (Luke 19:45-48, New King James Version)
Yet even as He did this, His authority was questioned by the very authorities who should have known Him,
27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?”
29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.”
31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.”
And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Mark 11:27-33, New King James Version)
Harsher than what even Chambers presented, but as MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary) shares about Luke 19:45-48,
”
Christ laments over Jerusalem.
Who can behold the holy Jesus, looking forward to the miseries that awaited his murderers, weeping over the city where his precious blood was about to be shed, without seeing that the likeness of God in the believer, consists much in good-will and compassion? Surely those cannot be right who take up any doctrines of truth, so as to be hardened towards their fellow-sinners. But let every one remember, that though Jesus wept over Jerusalem, he executed awful vengeance upon it.
Though he delights not in the death of a sinner, yet he will surely bring to pass his awful threatenings on those who neglect his salvation. The Son of God did not weep vain and causeless tears, nor for a light matter, nor for himself. He knows the value of souls, the weight of guilt, and how low it will press and sink mankind. May he then come and cleanse our hearts by his Spirit, from all that defiles. May sinners, on every side, become attentive to the words of truth and salvation.”
Reading Chambers devotional this morning, the truth is…is it worth the price of being well known and well liked but not having our Father?
In Luke 9:59, the man doesn’t want to disappoint his father or Jesus, nor show a lack of respect, but we can’t put respect and loyalty to our relatives and friends first if it will cost us putting Christ last. I like how Oswald shares it,”When your loyalties conflict, always obey Jesus Christ, whatever the cost.”
© 2010, Sunflower Faith. All rights reserved.
What happens on Sunflower Faith?
