Funny, Isn't It?

Eastford Baptist Church

August 10, 2006

“Funny, Isn’t It?”

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)

Isn’t it funny how $10 looks so big when we take it to church and so small when we take it to the store?
Isn’t it funny how big an hour serving God looks and how small 60 minutes are when spent playing golf, fishing or participating in a sports activity?
Isn’t it funny how laborious it is to read a chapter in the Bible and how easy it is to read 200 pages of a best selling novel?
Isn’t it funny how we believe what newspapers say, but question what the Bible says?
Isn’t it funny how we can't think of anything to say when we pray, but don't have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about with a friend?
Isn’t it funny how we need 2 or 3 weeks to fit a church event into our schedule, but can adjust our schedule for a social/entertainment event at the last minute?
Isn’t it funny how we find it hard to help a charitable cause with its hand out in front of a store, but don't have a problem with an impulse purchase inside?
Isn’t it funny how we always forget to pray even for a minute before retiring to bed and how keen we are to remember TV programs every night?
Isn’t it funny how hard it is to praise others for their deeds and how easy it is to spot others mistakes?
Isn’t if funny how we want to follow Jesus, but at the same time we expect to follow without sacrifice?
Funny, isn't it?

General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was asked the secret of his amazing Christian life. Booth answered, ‘I told the Lord that He could have all that there is of William Booth.” As a result, God used him in an incredible way. It’s the norm for every follower. He gave his all for us; he accepts nothing less from us. Any attempt at negotiating a better deal is just funny-business.

What does “giving our all” look like? According to the passage above, it calls for us to:

“Deny Self” - If I am a Disciple of Jesus, He literally becomes my way of Life, my rule of conduct. Every action and every decision I make is made in the light of “WWJD.” What-would-Jesus-do? Every difficult situation and every difficult decision is filtered through this simple question. And then regardless of what the flesh or human reason says, we deny ourselves and respond accordingly. As Jesus led a life of Self-denial; so as His disciple I must “deny myself.” Self-denial means I submit everything I am to His control: all my pleasures, all my interests, all my works, all my desires, all my ideas. I hold no area of my life back from Him and His control. No one else can take this step for me; it is a choice I must make on my own free will; one I feely choose to undertake. We deny self – and follow.
“Take up a cross” - Cross-bearing is not an easy road. Crucifixion was the most horrible and painful form of execution in all of human history, and death was usually extremely slow in coming. Luke elaborates a little more in Luke 9:23: “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” A disciple of Jesus “takes up his cross” every single day; it is a daily dedication of ourselves to Him, not a once in a lifetime experience. This does not mean that a disciple seeks to suffer; but it does mean he will not be surprised when difficulty comes his way. Taking up a cross is easier said than done. Cross-bearing preaches well, but when the reality hits of what it actually involves, many will choose a different path. But Jesus makes it clear that following Him will often require commitment that at times is painful and calls for great sacrifice. Why would anyone choose this? Because the way of the cross is the only path that leads to victory. There is victory in the power of the blood of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So we take up our daily cross – and follow.
“Follow me” - This is an invitation to enter into intimacy with Jesus. Following requires listening. This is the calling of the Shepherd to his sheep to listen for his voice. To close out the noise of competing sounds and voices and listen – and follow. It requires the sheep to decide that the shepherd knows the path best and He has the right to choose which path to follow. Following requires complete confidence in the Shepherd & complete trust in His love. Jesus issues an invitation today to hear his voice – and follow.

It’s funny isn’t it, how easy it seems? Yet all of us know that at times it is anything but simple. But yet the reward we share in Christ, compels us – give all we are - and follow. So we abandon the funny-business - we deny self – we pick up our daily cross – we listen – and we follow.

Blessings on you,
PT