Welcome to a short take by www.luke1425.org
Because Jesus directs all to “sit down” and consider the cost of being a disciple.
It is often heard that Jesus came to bring abundant life.
John 10:10 is the quoted passage: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
But exactly what is the “abundant life” that Jesus promised?
The abundant life is not..prosperity and wealth. The abundant life is not…family, friends and peace like the world.
The abundant life is not…food, fun and health.
The abundant life is righteousness, self-discipline and joy in the Holy Spirit.
The abundant life is being at peace with others who are loving the Living God with holiness.
The abundant life is suffering and rejoicing with Jesus because God is making them righteous.
Romans 14:17 tells us “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”.
In Acts 14 we are told that in order to be saved, to have the abundant life we “must go through many hardships.”
The Good News means “many hardships” with peace, righteousness and holiness by God’s power.
“They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. (Acts 14:21-22)
The abundant life is not God blessing your life, but God blessing the fact you give up your life to love Him. God loves a disciple who has a self-sacrificing trusting faith in His Son Jesus.
The abundant life is God blessing you for hating your own personal time. Hating your very self of self.
The abundant life is God blessing you for throwing away your plans, careers and comforts so that His will can be accomplished through you.
It is God blessing you because you are willing to live a life poured out in selfless love by His power.
As Jesus said:
“The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25)
Many follow Jesus today because of His ability to provide fun, food and healing.
Their motives are sinfully selfish and contrary to a carried-cross Christianity. They are self-centered Christians that will be disqualified for Eternal Life. God is selfless love and like His Son, God desires children who are not self-centered.
Such dishonest selfish believers are rebuked by Jesus.
Jesus tells them they are “looking for” Him because He provided them with free food.
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” (John 6:26)
As many individuals travel with Jesus those who fail to become true disciples will turn back and no longer follow Him because they come to realize that they must pick up a cross that will crucify their life, comfort and worldly peace.
“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:66)
The best thing you can do right now is “sit down” and count the cost of what it really means to follow Jesus because not all who follow will make it to eternal life.
Because the Abundant Life that ends in Eternal life…
…is self discipline, suffering with joy that only comes through the Holy Spirit.
…is pursuing obedient holiness in heart, mind and with one’s body.
…is surrendering to God’s will by hating your own life and obeying all the commands of God.
Listen to what the Apostle Peter wrote:
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6-9)
Only those who “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” yet “are filled with an inexpressible joy” are the only one’s who have the Abundant Life Jesus promised.
This video is brought to you by www.luke1425.org because Jesus told those seeking Him to sit down and think about the cost.
Timothy Williams
Because Jesus Said “Sit Down”
www.luke1425.org
