Rev Gideon Lee
Leaving All to Follow Christ
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “ If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish. ’ 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Tasteless Salt Is Worthless
34 “ Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The mark of a great leader is seen in his demands of his people. Look at Winston Churchill. He told the people "I have nothing to give you but blood, sweat, toil and tears." Every leader demands something from his followers.
Jesus spoke of the necessity of commitment in the passage that we just read. He even said if you want to follow me, you have to hate your father, mother, brother and even your own life. Don't misinterpret the scripture ya.
It is to tell us commitment is very important. More important than your love for your parents or your own life. Remember the Ten Commandments said honour your father and mother, so it is not contradictory when you read this in the right context.
Why did Jesus demand that? He probably knew, looking into the future that His disciples will follow His suffering. Many of His disciples were crucified, beheaded and flayed. Andrew was hanged on an olive tree at Patrae. Peter thought himself unworthy to be crucified as his Master, and, therefore, he asked to be crucified upside down. Paul was beheaded. The only one that lived was John, living in a forsaken island called Patmos. His disciples paid the price of following after Jesus.
His demands were radical and shook the foundation of our believe.
In the passage it said a large crowd was following Jesus. In the crowd many follows Jesus for many many reasons. Some for healing. Some because Jesus fed 5,000 so maybe for a free meal. Some could be for political agenda. And Jesus knew that. Jesus didn't say a popular thing. Following Him is not all rosy. Sometimes we will go through storms.
Same goes here for our congregation. Why do we follow Jesus? Is it because so that we receive blessings? Or is it just the popular thing to do? Or because you come due to your boyfriend or girlfriend? As you hear this message about the marks of a disciple, I want to remind us the cost of being a disciples.
What are the marks?
1. Establish right priorities.
Too often, other things that are not important become our priority. We need to have the right priorities.
There was a survey done to see how much time was spent on different things in life. The survey shows we spent 23 years sleeping. About 32-33%. Work? We spent 16 years working. 23%. TV? We spent 8 years on TV. Now maybe more because of Astro and Korean series. How about eating? We spent 6 years on eating. Maybe in Penang even more. We even spend much time dressing up. You know how long? 2 years! How much time on religion? Anyone can guess? We spend 6 months on religion. That is just 0.7%.
The survey shows that we have messed up our priorities. The mark of a disciple is that we must have right priorities by putting God first.
Let me put it this way, if it becomes illegal to be a Christian or to gather or assemble together to preach God or even to mention the name of Jesus, where will your priorities be?
2. We must count the cost.
If someone wants to build something he must count the cost so that he can finish it. When we don't finish something, our work is not complete. Know that Jesus wants you to succeed as a disciple. What is the cost? Everything.
In my father's ministry in Thailand, he would ask the contractor, when can you come and he would say next week, but is not specific. In Malaysia we have rubber time. Or worst, we always say on the way, when you just left the house. Or just around the corner. Which corner? The Thai culture is that they will turn up when they want. They can work for a few days then go missing for the rest of the week. It is part of the Thai culture. They will not finish at a specific deadline. They call it the Thai time. Will it be done? Yes. When? At Thai time.
As servants of Christ, we must count the cost.
3. Pay the price.
Jesus says deny yourself, take up the cross and follow me. He did not say pick up your Gucci bag or your Louis Vuitton or Prada and follow me. As we count the cost let us pay the price. What is the price? Everything.
And I end with this.
There was once a rich nobleman. He lived in a time when there was no electricity. And he said to himself, when he die he wants to leave a legacy to the village. After thinking, he said he wants to built a church for the village. But he did not show the plan to anyone. When the church was ready, everyone was invited and they could see how beautiful it was.
But when they came, they saw the place was dark because there was no electricity. One of them asked the rich man, why is the place so dark? He asked them to look at the wall and he told them on the wall are hooks. Every time you all come to the church, bring a lamp and hang it on the wall. When all of you bring your lamp the church will be bright. If one of you don't come it will be less bright.
Jesus wants our commitment. We light up the church. You may think your absence does not matter. It does. Our church will be less bright without you. We all need to show commitment.
Look at at Abraham, Isaac, even Moses. Moses left the palace to be in the wilderness for the Israelites. Abraham gave his only son. They paid a price so that God's people can fulfill the plans of God. What about Jesus, our perfect example? He paid the ultimate price. He gave His life for us.
Today I ask this question, would you pay the price to be His disciple?
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| Pastor Gideon praying for TOP's students sitting for their UPSR and their parents. |
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