The Cost of Following Jesus

Luke 9:57-62
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+9:57-62

Have you ever considered what it looks like to be completely sold out for the sake of Jesus? Have you weighed the option of putting both feet in and surrendering your life, your dreams, your goals, your time, your money, your everything to the King of the Universe? What does that entail? Well, all of you. Not just your words, but your actions and your output of the day.

What does it look like to have a faith that truly lives?

Well, I don't have the answer, folks, but you're welcome to follow along as I process just PART of what it means to be a follower of Jesus, who lives with abandon.

If you've been following my blog for the year(ish) that I have had it, you will know that I have already transferred colleges once. To put it (very, very) simply, I was in a different place in my faith walk as a senior in high school, who was mad at God for the crummy situations in which I was facing. I chose to neglect my lifelong dream of playing soccer at Concordia University in Nebraska, and I chose U of M, Morris. It was a great academic setting for me, but I didn't fit in relationally. Wanting a senior year I never had, I opted to attend a close college (30 min away) and thus, I transferred. It was a great year, and I got to make a full circle with my knee injury and soccer. I beat that torn ACL. I won! But now, as the flare up in my disobedience to God settles down...... I begin to wonder. What would have happened if I had pursued those wholesome dreams pre-senior year? I have wanted to make a far move, feeling like I can handle that as a young adult. I have wanted to live near a big city, full of life and diversity. I have wanted to see a culturally unique classroom, as I peer into my professional future. All of these dreams came rushing back to me. I have the confidence again to unlock the potential that God has placed inside of me. I have decided that God is bigger than any circumstance I encounter or any obstacle that I have to hurdle. Therefore, I will sell myself out for His calling. His purpose for my life is becoming more and more clear, and yet, I see struggle. I have a family, who doesn't want to see me go. I have the practical side of myself who says that it's a waste of time to transfer again. I have grounded myself around here with friends, professors, jobs, and connections that I would be sad to leave. And yet, I feel the urge. To go and start living what was once a mere dream of mine. Why wait?

Luke 9:57-62 is where I have buried myself tonight. I am pouring over this short amount of verses and relating to each of the situations that could likely hold someone back from giving Jesus full control of their life's plans.

1) The Son of Man hath no where to lay his head.... Well, that's not comforting!! But, I don't think that this is saying that God won't provide for you. You will have a place to live, but don't get comfy! To me, I am hearing: You don't belong anywhere. You aren't a Glenconian. You aren't a Minnesotan. You aren't a Wheaton. You aren't a U.S. citizen. You are mine. You belong in heaven. Follow me wherever I lead you..... Psalm 84:3 says, "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-- a place near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God." It is not a question of whether or not God will take care of you.... He will. He just doesn't want us to become stale. He doesn't want us to be lukewarm. He wants us to know Him and know His love which is going to naturally lead us to a life of passionate obedience to His name.

2) But, what if I wait just long enough to bury my father? Jesus says, "Let the dead bury their own dead: but GO though and PREACH the kingdom of God." God doesn't want your divided attention, He wants all of you. He wants to be First by a long shot. There is little to argue with here, but a lot to wrestle with. Considering the power and victory that Christ has over creation, He should be unquestionably first in our lives. So why then, how then, do we get sidetracked? Even by family?? Jesus is trying to convey here though, that he doesn't want us to neglect the specific calling He has placed on our lives while busying ourselves with the spiritually dead in the routine tasks of life. He has called us higher. We must go where He leads.

3) But, Lord, hang on. Just let me go and say goodbye. Jesus replies, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Never looking back! Friends, God doesn't want us to be wishy-washy. He wants a surrendered disciple. How do we do that? WHY would we ever do that? It is for freedom that we are set free! Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Your old ways will always be lurking. Temptations of your old self will loom. Don't look back! Christ died for us so we could live in freedom. Stand firm. How?? I'm losing all strength.... well, then that is when you run to the arms of Your Mighty Savior and rest in His grace. Saturate yourself with the truth of His love. Your vision will come back. You will regain the strength to carry on.... not as a slave... but as a free child of God.

"Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest."

on purpose

In midst of troubles, these verses sang comfort to my heart. But today they all hit me at once. I read one and it reminded me of another. And then I got thinking and remembered a verse from the attic of my brain. And it was just like, this is a message I needed to hear. God spoke to me in the quiet. I didn't intentionally sit down to listen to Him, but that didn't matter. He spoke. He spoke. 

Romans 8:18 -     For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

1 Corinthians 13:12- For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

First of all, all of the verses start with "for" 

Did you notice? :) Skimmers, go back and read!

What an encouragement. I don't want to let my words get in the way today, but I had to share. I had to share my heart. Anything we are going through, any circumstance experienced, controllable or not - it won't compare to the glory of Our Victorious King! Not only will be come to make all things right - Dostoevsky even says, "will make it possible not only to forgive, but to justify all that has happened." Now, that's a pretty radical statement. I have been hurt. Some of my readers have been hurt in ways that I haven't. Forgive but also justify the bad things that have happened to us?! It took me years to forgive and it's a conscious choice to every day humble myself before the Lord and forgive the wrongs.I'll be honest, sometimes pride wins. But then, I think of how ugly and dirty I am, and how white and pure Jesus makes me. He has forgiven me time and time and time again. How could I not show that same love to my brother?  But JUSTIFY?! Are you kidding???!!! It's hard to believe that I will ever be able to justify the things with which I have been wronged. But God's grace had done more in my life than I could have ever thunk up myself, so I should probably just keep believing that the Almighty has got that one covered, too. 

"Eternity goggles" is a phrase I was introduced to at Bible camp. But it's for real! As Christians, we aren't living for this world. We are living for a world we were made for - heaven. (Yes, that is a C.S. Lewis allusion, friends.) We are living as a light in this world. Why? Because we have the Light! Jesus cannot be overcome!!! Do you realize the loveliness of that? He has overcome. So those light and momentary afflictions? They will pass. Jesus won't ever leave or forsake you. He loves you soooo much. That's enough. So, get your perspective on! Don't lose heart, my friends. The troubles of this world are quick to weigh us down, but Jesus is preparing a heavenly home for us. Put full faith in your omnipotent Savior, and trust that He will hold you in His arms. Keep your eyes on that glory! It's a coming!

Maybe you're, stuck in the "why?" WHY is this happening to me? WHY now? WHY did you do that? WHY did I do that? WHY WHY WHY? Well, I don't know. Sometimes, the beauty is in the not knowing. For me, that's a confusing truth. But that's where trust comes in. God fully knows us. He knows our hearts. He knows our situations. He knows our future. He knows it all! When we see Jesus face to face, maybe we will get the full story. But will it even matter at that point? We will have fought the good fight. We will have run the race with perseverance. But maybe we'll know. But for know, in the not knowing, have faith. Trust, like a little child trusts their parents, that God has your good in mind. Trust that He will lead you on the right path. When it's scary, when it's foggy, when it's hurting, when it's hard, He won't let go of your hand. And you know what else? I'll be right there along side you. Now, that is a two-way street people. You get weary, I pick you up. I get weary, you pick me up. Deal? Deal. Pinky promise? Pinky promise!!!

So wherever you find yourself today, I hope that you are reassured of your unshakeable, unmovable, unwavering HOPE in the arms of your loving Savior, Jesus Christ.