Counting The Cost

Lent 2011: Week 2

Counting The Cost

Scripture Focus: Luke 9: 57-62

Objective: To Examine My True Heart While I "Walk With Jesus"

So, we have made it to the second week of Lent. We may have slipped here or there, but we made it! Perhaps, you kept your fast "to a T" but your mouth spoke faster than your spirit could filter. The great thing about electronic devotion groups is no one (in the group) can see you when you are reading...and for those who might be around, at least they don't know what you're doing. So, go ahead...if you were not the best example of someone who is "walking with Jesus" last week, raise your hand! [waiting...don't want to rush anyone] Well, did you do it? I know I did! Not because I am defeated or because I have given up on myself...I raised my hand because I recognize that lifted hands are the universal sign of SURRENDER! During this Lenten season, don't be afraid (and please don't forget) to surrender to God!!! Whatever challenges or obstacles you face...whatever burdens you started Lent with or will find along the way...SURRENDER!!! If you could see me, you would know that I stopped typing for just a moment to exhale & raise my hands!!!

In our decision to "walk with Jesus," I believe that we must never forget to examine our hearts. I mean, are we really walking with Jesus? Do we have the right spirit on our journey or are we just going through the motions? Two weeks ago I took my dog Bella on a walk...she loves to go on walks. But this time, we had a new friend with us. Her new "sister" Ginger! Well, Ginger was out of control during our walk. I didn't enjoy the walk at all. I rushed the walk...I got frustrated on the walk...leashes were tangled and there was so much confusion on our walk. However, I noticed a change last week. This time I took my time on the walk, and I enjoyed it-I think they did too! The difference in the experiences was my preparation!

If we want to succeed and enjoy our "walk with Jesus," we must make sure that we are prepared to walk with Him. In order to be prepared, I believe Jesus shows us in His encounter with some "Jesus walkers," our hearts must be right!

By the time we reach Luke 9:57-62, Jesus has been on somewhat of a "miracle and healing spree". He has healed in so many powerful ways (some he didn't even go see...he just spoke), and he even provided the biggest feast people could have asked for. But now, he has to take a minute to check the heart of the people. Remember our first week's lesson "it's easy to walk with Jesus when it is popular and convenient". So Jesus was checking the TRUE HEART of His followers.

When we are "Jesus Walkers," we must first be sure that we are not just being EMOTION DRIVEN. Emotion-driven walkers are impulsive. When the music stops, there is NO PRAISE! When the going gets rough, it's hard to WORSHIP! When things aren't as good as they used to be, they may CHANGE CHURCHES! (v.57) Jesus replies to emotion-driven walkers by saying...you're with me now, BUT!

Then we have "Jesus Walkers" who are called out by Jesus! Jesus actually taps us on the shoulder and says "Follow me" (v.59) but we have an excuse "I've got to wait until this situation is over...then I'll walk with you". You see, it was customary in this time to funeralize a person on the same day of their death...so, the second Jesus walker did not have a dead father to go back to. In everyday living, this kind of Jesus Walker has a child that they are waiting on to graduate before they get more involved in church OR bills to pay off before they become a real tither OR a few more people to put in their place before they stop cussing! Jesus declares "if you are going to walk with me, then leave that stuff/those people where it/they belong and GO TELL SOMEBODY about ME"!

Finally, Jesus shows us another type of Jesus Walker. We volunteer to walk with Jesus, but we've got to go back and say goodbye to our old stuff...old life...old friends...old ways. (v.61) In response, Jesus declares that we are not "fit for service" if we've got to LOOK BACK! (v.62) If our TRUE HEART is with Jesus, then we would be ready to move forward! I've never seen anyone successfully drive forward while looking in the rear view mirror. In the same way, if we want to be Jesus walkers we must keep our eyes fixed on the task AHEAD!

During this second week of Lent, I challenge us to examine our TRUE HEARTS! Are we emotion-driven Jesus walkers who need something "good" or "miraculous" to happen in order for us to walk? Are we called Jesus walkers who want to get it all together before we walk? Are we willing Jesus walkers who are afraid to let go of the past? If we are honest, each of us can find a little bit of ourselves in each of these examples. Let's strive this week to examine our hearts so that Jesus can reply: "I've found a place with you...you forsook your troubles and proclaimed my Gospel...you are fit for service because you didn't look back"!

Prayer:

O God who is mighty beyond our wildest imaginations or desires, show us how to walk with You in the midst of an imperfect world and residing in an imperfect body. We thank You for loving us enough to leave us examples and for teaching us Your ways. We want to enjoy our walk with You, and we want You to deem us "fit for service". So we ask that You show us our TRUE HEARTS so that we might be better Jesus walkers. In Your Son's matchless name we pray, Amen.

May the Lord bless you real good!

With Love,

PastorC