Matthew 12:46-50
(Mark 3:31- 35; Luke 8:19- 21)
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without (outside the crowd) desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
We just concluded an extended series on “True Treasures.” We sought to understand the hidden motives of our ways. Why I do what I do or say what I say reflects back to the man inside. If the man inside is needy he will perceive actions or things as to what benefit can be derived from them. If the man (or woman) has truly found Christ, and a growing faith abides then it’s not as much about me as it is about bringing Christ to others through my actions and words. The overcoming of “me” and finding Christ as my “True Treasure” is the purpose and work of the Spirit. As we grow in faith we learn that my needs are met in Christ. It takes time and trial for this to be learned as mentioned in the last Vida, but it starts with the invitation to come to Christ.
I have witnessed a fatal mistake when the invitation to come to Christ is made. It has become too easy to become a “Christian.” You can say the sinners prayer in your chair and presto you’re born again. We say “I won’t embarrass you and ask you to come up.” Since when is receiving the gift of eternal life, or the forgiveness of sins something to be embarrassed about? When has being filled with the Holy Spirit, so I can truly walk a transformed life something to be ashamed of? The whole mindset of being a Christian starts right here and what is the message we are giving? If someone cannot come forward in church how will they ever stand in a secular environment? Luke 12:8-9 Jesus speaking “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess — me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.” (deny in this context does not mean “to coward down” it means rejecting Christ).
Could we be committing such a crime against the Holy Spirit and not even be aware of it? What if the measure of truly wanting Christ is when enough of me has been subdued that I don’t care what others think? I’m going forward! I’m done with me and I need help! By making “being Christian” so easy as a simple prayer in your seat we mitigate the struggle that is needful for new birth. I know I struggled in my seat for several months before I came forward and when I did I shot out of my seat. I was done with me and I didn’t care what others thought. After that precious prayer I knew that I had received eternal life. I was saved. That moment in my life became my confidence and hope for future times of doubt when I let God down or started doubting my salvation. I would think back on that moment in my life and it gave me strenght to come back to my Father.
The Japanese moth is such a beautiful moth with large wings of fluorescent colors. A man had become quite enchanted by these beautiful creatures, and had watched one in particular while it was developing in the cocoon. Finally the day came for this beauty to make its debut. However as it is true of this species the hole they make by chewing the top of the cocoon is ever so small that birth literally takes all day. The moth struggles incessantly till exhaustion to emerge. Believing he was helping his winged friend the man cut a larger opening in the cocoon. It took less than an hour and the creature was born. The man was ecstatic waiting for his little friend to flutter his beautiful wings and fly. Yet the wings just lied limp along the moth’s side. The moth itself seemed perplexed as to what purpose they served- unable to lift them. In the man’s attempt to help his friend, he hurt his friend. The struggle of birth was the Creators design to press the creatures life fluids out of its engorged body and into the wings giving them life, and reducing the weight of its rather large body.
I believe this is the mistake made by making “becoming a Christian” too easy. Where’s the struggle? Where’s counting the cost and forsaking all to follow Christ? What is the greater sin against the faith? Allowing the struggle to work till faith subdues the carnal man, or allowing someone to walk away thinking that their saved, but there has been no change? When I received Christ I looked at my church body differently. I felt the connection for the first time. I truly had an expanded family that I could be like minded with. The struggle is a precious gift from God. As we choose to say no to the life we lived and say yes to a new life in faith the struggle binds us. A life lived not only by the Grace God gives, but in fellowship with with one another. Sadly I feel modern day Christianity has lost the sense of family, as we have taken away the struggle and made being Christian more ‘cliche.’ We are trying to make people more comfortable in church so that they have a good “church experience.” When what they need is to become very uncomfortable with their sin nature and look to the church for help. This is not a game. If we fail in this we have truly failed. Regardless whether we have a 15,000 member church or a 25 member church. The Truth Saves! It brings Hope. A watered down gospel does not. God help us.
Father God,
Was the Cross easy for You? Was the path to Golgotha after being beaten and carrying the Cross until you collapsed pleasurable? I think not, yet You did it for us. You were committed to saving us because Your love failed not. Father You are worth whatever sacrifice we need to make to end the rulership of our carnal man. Help us to see from Your side of Heaven our desperate need of You before we ever think of denying You. Thank you and Amen.