True Bread ( Part II)

Matthew 4:17-22

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow — me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

Given the overall flakiness of the disciples, their initial response to Christ calling is quit amazing. Oftentimes in the beginning of our walk with Christ His calling is met with exurberance, not much knowledge, but a willingness to step forward. I was 16 yrs. old, been a Christian for about a year and I volunteered to be a camp counselor. I was paired up with a 23yr. old college girl and together we were to represent a father mother type for the kids. She had 8 junior high girls and I had 8 junior high boys. I was way over my head but I didn’t know it. We had Bible discussions after the morning lesson from one of the pastors. I lead the discussion but the idea was that everyone would comment. We also had meals together and in general did camp activities together. One of our activities was to build a T- pee. The poles were twelve feet tall and with the kids holding the poles and my “ spiritual wife” holding the ladder, I was just barely able to reach the tops of the poles to latch them together. I was so grateful for my earlier years of being a boyscout.  After this the last thing pending was getting the parachute wrapped around the top of the T-pee. I could not figure out how to do it. So I said let’s pray, we need God’s help. Not sure of what would happen next but in preparation I had my spiritual wife, Cindy (?) stand on one side of the T-pee and I on the other with the kids in between us. I told them to lift up the parachute as high as they could and be ready for God to wrap our T-pee. I commenced to pray not knowing what I would say if God didn’t come through. I prayed asking Him for His help, claiming a few promises that I had memorized for good measure and said Amen. After my Amen and thank you Lord for hearing our pray a gentle breeze came up out of nowhere and lifted the parachute up and around the top of the T-pee where I then could secure it. It was so cool and such a testimony to the kids, and to the both of us.  The verse “I can do all things in Christ Jesus who strengthens me” became my verse. I learned that day that when your willing to go out on a limb for God, God will not disappoint. 

I often wonder if I would have been several years more in my faith if I would have had the same response, or if my “spiritual maturity” would have gotten in the way? The disciples gave up their careers to follow Christ and James and John even left their family business with their father. What was their perception of Christ, what did it mean to be fishers of men? Did they think that Christ was going to be the next great rock star ( figure of speech) ? Would they become famous, rich, no longer having to fish for a living, or was it something else that motivated them? We are aware of  Peter’s comment “ were else would we go Lord, only you have the words of eternal life,” but that was said later in Christ’s ministry. I don’t think we will ever  fully know, but what we do know is that much had to change in their hearts and fortunately did change as Christ was ending His earthly ministry. Somewhere mid way into Christ ministry we get a window view of James and John. Their motives were typically human and self seeking. In Mark 10:35-37

And we could probably speculate, knowing how we are as human beings, that they were all probably in it for themselves. How about us, what are our motives for following Christ? I know it took me a while to understand what it meant to be a Christian. Initially, just like the disciples I was responding to His calling, a conviction He firmly put in my heart, but I had no idea of what being a Christian meant. I learned via His Word, I learned via His continued conviction of my sin and by attending church what being a Christian meant. I know when I did my own thing I  felt awful until I made it right. Asking for forgiveness became instinctual. I became very sensitive to my union with The Holy Spirit, and knew exactly what Adan and Eve must have felt when the Spirit of God departed from them. So I learned. I learned it was much more rewarding to obey than to disobey and have to repent. Every time I did that it felt as if I was going backwards in my faith. Now 40 yrs. or so later, I know that there is no other way to live. I’m not interested, not even curious. The joy, peace and especially the assurance I feel over my life and my family is more precious than anything that this life has to offer. How about you, were are you in your journey? Can you say with Peter “ where else would we go Lord, only you have the words of eternal life ( Jn.6:68)?

Continuing in Mark 10 Jesus takes advantage of this teaching opportunity that James and John provided. In verses 42-45

If there was ever a measuring stick for spiritual maturity it would be this. How willing and to what extent are we ready to serve others, putting their needs before ours? As I have matured in my faith I have found that there is such a joy in helping others. Being able to smile kindly to another human being and have them feel the genuine kindness of the Lord through me is such a joy. There is a line in the movie Chariots of Fire where Eric Little’s wife is worried that is running career is becoming more important to him than serving the Lord. His reply is what has stayed with me all these years. “You need not worry, when I run, I feel the joy of The Lord in me, I am doing what He wants me to do.” And likewise,I feel the Lord’s pleasure when through me He lifts the spirits of others.

Normally I have two appointments per client, the first one is where we discuss the project and the second is when I come with pricing. On my first appointment with this particular client after about 15 minutes of us talking, he stoppped me and said, do you believe in God? I said yes, in fact my whole life is dedicated to knowing Him. He replied by saying, I knew it. Not much more was said after that and I went on to finish our meeting. However that was a very important lesson because it reemphasized the importance of always being ready, in season and out of season. We never know when the Spirit of God through us will reach out and touch someone. To me, that appointment was just like any other appointment, but it wasn’t. I took his comment as a sign from the Lord that this client was not far from the Kingdom. Some of us sow the seed of faith, others water it by our actions and words and others receive the joy of harvesting it, leading someone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We do not know where we are in the process of someone’s salvation, we only know that we are a part of it. We need to always be ready.

Jesus told the story of a rich man leaving to a far away country and entrusting three of his servants with varying amounts of money. The first two doubled what the master gave them, the third hid it. Upon his return the master praised the first two but rebuked the third and he was cast out. There is no greater TALENT or GIFT in the world given to us than the life of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the very definition of LIFE. Indwelt by Him we have guidance, wisdom, peace, joy, forgiveness, encouragement as well as courage. In nothing do we lack or come up short. By maintaining our devotions we maintain a constant supply or stream of life permeated with the essence of who and what God is. To not take advantage of this or to hide it would be a terrible waste, and hence the severity of the punishment. It’s like siting at the table with a seven course meal and not eating it, but on top of that next to you sits a person starving and we don’t offer it to him/her. What are we doing? How blind or disengaged can we be? Is this gift of life being multiplied, or are we guilty of hiding it? Is His presence ever increasing in us, it should be.

Overall what I see and feel is a compromised Church. The term the Bible uses is lukewarm.  Dividing our interest and desires between worldly persuits and a life of faith. We get comfortable with our life style and lose our desperateness for Christ. We lose sight of His horrendous sacrifice, to  afford us a life in and with the Spirit. A life that can be 100% percent immersed in Him. There is not one part of us no matter how broken we are that He will not accept or that He cannot touch and bring healing. No shame that His Grace cannot erase or defeat and somehow be used for our good; all those who are in Christ are victors as Romans 8:38-39 promises.

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Amen)”

More Forward in His Grace – Arthur