eDevs

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

EmmDev 2024-07-30 [The Discipleship Journey] The High Cost #5 - Plough

The High Cost #5 - Plough

Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke9:62)

Over the last couple of weeks I've been involved in the memorials for two folk who have served the Lord well into their 80s.

At some point, their faith meant that they made challenging choices. They chose family over workaholism, they chose doing the right thing and walking the long road rather than taking shortcuts. They often chose humble service in the background over grabbing the limelight and letting everyone know just how much they were doing. Instead of being shaped by public opinion and the social cues of society, they chose to be shaped by the holy habits of prayer, scripture reading, public worship, listening to the Spirit's promptings and winsomely sharing their faith.

These men and women put their hands to the plough. They didn't look back.
The amazing thing is that, even though they were in their late 80's, their memorial services were well attended and the tributes spoke of lives well-lived. Their faithful plowing had facilitated fields and fields of good crops and good fruit.

I pray we will do the same.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

EmmDev 2024-07-16 [The Discipleship Journey] The High Cost #4 - Seed

The High Cost #4 - Seed

We're looking something Jesus said in Holy Week, but it's important to recognise what happens BEFORE and AFTER He says these words.

BEFORE
- He'd been anointed by Mary with oil and perfume (Symbolic of burial preparation)
- The Triumphal Entry
- The arrival of the Gentile Believers seeking Jesus

AFTER
- He commits Himself to fulfilling the words He speaks by going to the cross
- He asks that God would be glorified (Through the Son's submission to the Father's will)
- God speaks for the third time from Heaven saying: "I have glorified it and I will glorify it."

Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves Me must follow Me; and where I am, My servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves Me. (John12:24-26)

And so the high call to discipleship continues.
A wheat kernel (a small tiny seed with a hard shell) goes into the ground and dies.
There in the ground the hard kernel cracks open and a full wheat plant (locked up in the dna of the seed) begins to grow and many seeds will be made by the one seed.

Then Jesus says it another way...
Anyone who loves their own life (too much) will lose it.
Anyone who hates their life will keep it...
The word for "hate" is "miseo" and is almost always used in the context of priorities.
When you chose option A as your priority, you are effectively "hating" (miseo-ing) option B.

Why does Jesus place such a high call before us?
Why such a high cost? Why is such a radical departure from an old life needed?

The clue lies in Jesus' analogy.
A wheat kernel is small, hard and insignificant. But it has the DNA of a full wheat plant in it.
In a broken sinful world, we are also small, hardened by sin and irrelevant because we follow our own agendas BUT we are created in the image of God. We are created for more.
Our old lives need to die.
Stone hearts need to become flesh.
The old clothes of worldly ways need to be taken off and a new self put on (See Col.3)
When the old dies, the new can come.

The context of these important words about discipleship is vital: Jesus uses this analogy in Holy week with Gentiles believers present, making the gospel universal and with the full delight and approval of God the Father. He's heading for the cross to die for the world.

By ourselves we can't die to old self and arise as a new self.
But Jesus' death and resurrection has made germination/regeneration/transformation possible, because the power of the Holy Spirit now works in you and me...

Friday, July 12, 2024

EmmDev 2024-07-12 [The Discipleship Journey] The High Cost #3

The High Cost #3

"And whoever does not carry their cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.' Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples." (Luke14:27-33)

Jesus once again picks up the theme of taking up the cross.
Let's keep in mind that someone who carried a cross was going to die.
The death we all must die is to ourselves, but some will lose their physical lives too.

But now Jesus takes it further.
We need to be serious about commencing the journey.
He uses two examples of people who did not plan adequately for their undertakings.

A disciple is someone who follows Jesus no matter the cost.
This is not a decision that should be taken lightly.

I remember as a teen, being at an event where a powerful gospel presentation was given. I was one of the team that counseled the teens when they came forward for prayer. I was partnered with a school teacher and when one of the rugby jocks came forward for prayer, accompanied by two of his buddies. I was thinking "Yes Lord! This is a high profile person who will make a big impression."
But the teacher was wiser than I was. She discerned that the guy had his eye on a girl and this decision was to impress her. So she said to him: "This is the most important decision of your life. It will impact how you play rugby, how you treat the people around you, how you handle your relationships with girls, how you approach your school work, how you speak and live. It is the best decision you could possibly make and your life will be richer and fuller but it won't be easier. Why don't you sleep on it and come back to my classroom at break time tomorrow."

I realised instantly that she'd called it right. The next day at break time we waited, the guy didn't pitch, but one of his friends did. He'd spent the night thinking about what Jesus had done for him and what he was willing to give up to follow Him for the rest of his life.
He was ready, he was sober-minded and he was serious.

There was no emotional music playing in the background. No pretty girls watching.
He made a serious decision.
And he is still following Christ today...

Thursday, July 11, 2024

EmmDev 2024-07-11 [The Discipleship Journey] The High Cost #2

The High Cost #2

When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." (Matthew9:18-22)

As we read this passage we must remember that Jesus has just given orders to cross over the lake. So, if we imagine the scene, Jesus has been teaching and healing and He was starting to be mobbed. He's standing on the shores of Galilee about to climb into the boat while the crowd throngs around Him.

Bear in mind, His earthly mission is only three years. It is short, urgent and significant. There is little time to waste. On top of that, there are many gathered around Him. They've seen miracles and healing. People come to be with Him - to be associated with Him. Not all of them are sincere, not all of them have the tenacity for the long haul - they just want to bask in His spotlight

One man comes - he's a teacher of the law - He's interested in being associated with this new and influential Rabbi. With grandiose hyperbole he makes the declaration: "I will follow you wherever you go..." (Bear in mind that popular and influential teachers would be invited into the homes of the rich and famous.) Jesus deflates him quickly: There will not be a lot of glamour on this trip.

The other one has conditions: "Let me bury my father."
There are two options here:

The man's father has just died and arrangements must be made. In Jewish culture the burial happened as quickly as possible, even the same day. It could be that Jesus was saying: "I'm about to go to the other side (where a gentile demon-possessed man desperately needs to be set free) and you need to come right now. There is very little that can be done for your father so let the spiritually dead bury the dead."
The man's father was still alive, but frail, and the man is actually saying, "Let me get my family affairs sorted out and I'll join you in a month or two (or three or four or ....)" In this case, Jesus is really saying: "There will always be reasons to stay, and so at some point you are going to have to leave because staying will make you spiritually dead."

(Personally, I think the second scenario is the more likely one. It seems unlikely that a man who's father has just died would be standing on the shores of Galilee listening to Jesus' teaching...)

Again, these are strong statements about the urgency of the Kingdom of God.
God has to have priority in our lives.
Although Jesus' call may seem demanding, His call is actually urgent, these two men are caught in serious traps and it's going to take serious steps to escape them.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

EmmDev 2024-07-10 [The Discipleship Journey] The High Cost #1

The High Cost #1

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke14:26-27)

Today's passage contains what commentators call a "vivid hyperbole".
It is a dramatic image designed to grab our attention.

Obviously Jesus does not mean that we literally hate our fathers, mothers, spouse, children and siblings. He simply means that our love for Him should be absolute. We should love Him more than anything else. In fact, the gap between our love for Him and our love for others should be as dramatic as the gap between love and hate.

He follows this up with another vivid image.
In Graeco-Roman times carrying a cross meant you had been sentenced to death.
In the movies, they often depict a condemned man going to the execution chamber and the prisoners around them chant: "Dead man walking."
To pick up your cross is to become a dead person walking.

These dramatic images remind us that following Jesus isn't always easy.
Throughout the centuries followers of Jesus have been disowned by their families, abandoned by their spouses, condemned by their parents, mocked by their children, isolated in the business world and executed for their faith.

Not all of us will have to leave our families.
Not all of us will lose our lives.
But some will...

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

EmmDev 2024-06-25 [The Discipleship Journey] Another Disciple Called - To Truth

Another Disciple Called - To Truth

Throughout this series I'll be looking at people Jesus called.
Some responded immediately and some hesitated.
So far we have considered the disciples who left their nets, Matthew, Nicodemus, Zacchaeus and the rich young ruler.

Today we look at a woman, trapped by years of being discarded and devalued by men.
She's caught in a trap of shame - coming to collect water at the well at the hottest time of the day, hoping no-one else will be there.

Jesus engages her and their conversation meanders from the practicalities of drawing water from the well to living water and her desire for it.

Jesus doesn't ask her to be born again.
He doesn't ask her to sell her stuff.
He doesn't ask her to serve Him lunch.
He doesn't ask her to leave her job and follow Him.
He does ask her to fetch her husband.

He's asking her to get real - and she does.
Then He expresses her pain: She's been discarded by 5 men and the new one won't even give her his name. Having encountered loving acceptance in spite of her broken truth, the woman asks the spiritual questions that lead her to confirming that He is the Messiah.

What's beautiful is to see what happens next:

She leaves her water jar at the well - she's leaving her painful past with Jesus.
She's telling others about Him.

So, again, we see that the journey of following Jesus is unique.
But the results are beautiful.
Read the account below...

He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."

"Sir," the woman said, "I can see that You are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."

"Woman," Jesus replied, "believe Me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; We worship what We do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When He comes, He will explain everything to us."

Then Jesus declared, "I, the one speaking to you---I am He."

Just then His disciples returned and were surprised to find Him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do You want?" or "Why are You talking with her?"

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, "Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" They came out of the town and made their way toward Him. (John4:16-30)

Friday, June 21, 2024

EmmDev 2024-06-21 [The Discipleship Journey] Inside Out

Inside Out

As we have seen, being a disciple is about following Jesus and becoming like Him.

This is not easy. It is a high call.

In the passage below, Paul urges us to have the mindset of Jesus in our relationships with others. He then talks about the incredible sacrifice Jesus made, probably quoting from an early Christian hymn.

But who is equal to such a task?
Who can live up to such a high bar?
Who can manage that?

Paul gives us the secret: We need to work from the inside out.
Take the salvation you've experienced inside you and work it outward into your life.

And the good news is that God is at work in us through His Spirit.
Through His Spirit our will can be pointed in the right direction
and so can our actions.

We are not alone,
we don't have to do this by ourselves,
or in our own strength,
God is at work INSIDE us and we get to show it OUT there.

Read all about it in the passage below...

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage;
rather, He made Himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death
--- even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed---not only in My presence, but now much more in My absence---continue to work out (outward) your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. (Philippians2:5-13)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

EmmDev 2024-06-20 [The Discipleship Journey] The key ingredient

The key ingredient

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another. (John13:34-35)

As we do the work of telling people about Jesus, we can be as articulate and creative as we like, but the most effective method to reach others is servant-hearted and sacrificial love.

This is what Jesus modeled when He washed the disciples' feet.
But in the same conversation He also predicted His death and even triggered it by bringing Judas out into the open and basically giving him the go ahead to commit his treachery.

Later in chapter 15 Jesus will also tell His disciples that no one has greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. Then He proceeds to die for everyone, not only friends, but enemies and those who didn't know or care.

Jesus epitomised love.
When we love people through service and sacrifice, we're reflecting Jesus.

Look for opportunities today to love and serve with a gracious heart that makes people feel valued.

You'll be moving them one step closer to Jesus...

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

EmmDev 2024-06-19 [The Discipleship Journey] DISCIPLES make disciples #2

DISCIPLES make disciples #2

"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? 'The first,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.'" (Matthew21:28-31)

I have a saying I use often: "If I have mumps but tell you I have measles, what will you catch?"
The answer is "Not measles!"

Only real disciples can make disciples.

Jesus makes the same point in this parable.

It is who we are and not what we say that matters.

What are people "catching" from you today?

Enough said...

Friday, June 14, 2024

EmmDev 2024-06-14 [The Discipleship Journey] Disciples make disciples #1

Apologies for the missed eDev yesterday....

Disciples make disciples #1

The ultimate test of disciples is that they make disciples.
Yes. We are called to pass the faith on.

It doesn't matter how well we know the Bible.
It doesn't matter how many theological degrees we have.
It doesn't matter how much work we do in the church.
If we aren't passing the faith on, the work of discipleship is not complete in us.

Paul, writing to his protege Timothy (the disciple he is mentoring) offers this as the criteria for selecting leaders:

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2Timothy2:2)

The passage is so clear: We need to be passing on the faith.

Three observations:

One of the simplest ways this happens is parents and grandparents who pass their faith on to kids and grandkids.
This is both one of the easiest and most difficult forms of sharing our faith.
It's easy because we already have a trust relationship, we have earned the right to speak and we have a foundation of love.
It's difficult because our kids can easily see if we practice what we preach.
If we are not experiencing a real relationship with Christ, no matter what we say, our kids will see what we do...
This does not mean that we have go around getting in people's faces and pushing the gospel down people's throats. When we are following Jesus closely, we will be moved by love to connect with those around us. We will act with His compassion and sensitivity and people will ask us what makes us special.
We're never selling ourselves. Like the moon reflects the sun, we reflect Jesus' grace, love, compassion and kindness. It's about Him and not us. The story is told of two famous preachers in London: People left one service saying "What a preacher!" whereas they left the other service saying "What a God!"

We can't be disciples in a vacuum or a holy huddle. We're meant to be salt in the meal, leaven in the dough and light in the darkness.

Ask God to fill you with love for people who are far from Him and for courage and integrity to live well in their midst.