July 1 Sermon: Getting Compatible with Jesus
In today’s gospel we are continuing our walk with Jesus. For His disciples this is their period of “on
the job training” – Jesus shows them what life in the
We’ve learned that the kingdom has no boundaries. Christ’s love and ministry extends both to
Jews and non-Jews, to rich and poor, to sinners and religious Pharisees, to
outcasts and insiders. He breaks down
the barriers that separate and divide people, bringing together all at His
table.
We’ve also seen not everyone is willing to accept the kingdom – the
rule of God. Jesus invites, but compels
no one. Last week we saw that Jesus is
more powerful than evil, more powerful than death, more powerful than
disease. No one – and no human disorder
– anytime, any place – is beyond the mercy and power of God.
In today’s reading, Jesus would teach his disciples – even us – that
there is a cost to being his follower.
If you join up with Jesus, he has expectations – he would be my Lord master – and he is a demanding master.
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It is easy for our minds to grasp those words of Jesus that offer
blessing – acceptance, forgiveness and peace.
But somehow after we leave church, it’s harder to remember His words that
command us to love as he loves, to forgive those who have wronged us, to show
mercy –especially when confronted with hostility.
James and John had that problem and they were among the closest to
Jesus. He sent them ahead of him to the next village he planned to visit. They announced that Jesus, a prophet mighty
in word and deed will be coming to their town – and by the way we’ll need a
place to stay and some food.
But rather than an offer of welcome and hospitality, the villagers
simply tell them “No thank you. Go
somewhere else.”
By the time, James and John get back to Jesus,
they are fuming – really angry. They
don’t know how to handle rejection.
Their attitude is “Don’t get mad, get even – Don’t get even, get ahead”.
Isn’t that the temptation when we face rejection? When we’ve been hurt? It’s perfectly natural. Natural, but not Christ’s
way.
So Jesus rebukes James and John for seeking retaliation or revenge –
for thinking about getting even. That’s
not what it means to live under the rule of God. There is no place in our walk with Jesus for
retaliatory anger, for getting even.
James and John had forgotten Christ’s earlier words
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. Luke 6:28,29
If in the heat of moment James and John could forget some of His
teaching, so will we. Thus we have to
keep reviewing His words in the Bible so that they will be planted in our
minds. In the heat of moment – or more
likely afterward – we have to take time for prayer and mediation – asking what
has the Lord said that applies to this situation right now.
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Did everyone
who heard Jesus speak, immediately come and follow the Lord? In
today’s gospel,
One said: “I will follow you, Lord, BUT LET ME FIRST go
and say farewell to those at home.”
So go ahead
Lord, and I’ll catch up later.
Another when He heard Jesus’
invitation “Follow me” said “Yes Lord, but first I’ve got a funeral to
go to ...”
Sounds like
a good excuse to me, but it didn’t to Jesus
- maybe the Lord saw that it
was only an excuse.
There is a sense of URGENCY
about following Jesus: when some one says “Maybe later but first I have to ...” Jesus says “No, not
later, now.”
Christ is demanding: “Loyalty to me takes precedence over all other
stuff in your life. If you wish to
follow me, then I must be your Lord – and come first.”
Jesus expects radical commitment, a singleness of purpose. When some one says they will follow, but they
need a break, Jesus replies: “No one
who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the
He says that no one who “looks back” is fit for the
kingdom. Thus He calls us to focus
forward on the life God has in store for us. The happiness we’ll experience is going to
come from looking ahead with hope. The fulfillment we’ll feel is going to come
from moving forward with faith.
It’s about building a new future, based on his rule of love, with our
existing friends and families, starting now.
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Being a follower of Jesus is a radical commitment to a way of living
that is different from what comes naturally.
This Sunday I invite you to “Live Jesus way of radical discipleship for
just one week.”
I know you’re already trying to follow in His way. But I’m suggesting an experiment in really
trying to follow a couple of specific teachings – and then at the end of the
week see what a difference it makes.
The experiment is simple: No
uncharitable thoughts toward any one you meet this week, and instead love
everyone you meet and see. Make it a
conscious effort.
You don’t think you have unkind thoughts about anyone. What about that
guy who cuts you off in traffic – almost forces you off the road? What do you think about him?
It’s natural at other times to think he didn’t do that because he’s
lazy – or she’s dumb. Or she let me down
because she doesn’t really care about me.
You can’t help having uncharitable thoughts – unkind comments, that
don’t speak them out loud.
Those things pop into your mind, but you can immediately correct
them. Think of Jesus sitting next to you
and tell him you’re putting that thought out of your mind.
Talk to Jesus about it, like He’s right at your side – for His Spirit
is with you.
Luther said, “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you
can stop him from making a nest in your hair.”
Don’t let uncharitable, negative thoughts about others nest in your
mind. Replace them with something
positive – the love of God.
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Show Christian love in words and little deeds of kindness. When someone is having a bad day, what can
you say to encourage them and lift them up?
Go out of your way to be kind and gracious – to folks you like and
especially to those you really don’t care for.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? But love your enemies, do good to them. 6:32.35
Try performing some acts of random kindness.
Mother Teresa said:
“Do small
things with great love”
and
start, “In your own family first”.
“Do small things with great love” for those
who are a part of your daily life, so that the love of Christ
might be expressed in your words and actions.
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Studies have shown that if you smile at someone, they usually smile
back. But if you don’t, they don’t.
The point is somehow you project how you feel about people –your
attitude toward them – and that affects how they respond to you. Changing your attitude, changes how they
respond to you.
Okay. Not everyone will
notice. And if you’re dealing with a New
Yorker, they are so cynical they’ll just be suspicious.
But you’re not doing it for them – you are doing it for Christ.
You’re doing it because you follow Jesus, and you’re sharing His love.
And it just happens to be a better way to live, because you’re “Getting
compatible with Jesus”.
He invites you to look inward and discover what kind of person you can
be. You have the power to make yourself
compatible with Jesus. Through that
compatibility we can experiencing joy, fulfillment and
love.
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So try this little experiment: No uncharitable thoughts about anyone
and love everyone. Then you will be
producing the fruit of the Spirit in your life:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
That’s different from the way of the world, because
Love and kindness are the Christ-like reaction to people’s anger and
malice;
Peace and patience are a disciple’s response to dissension and
quarrels;
Faithfulness and gentleness are the Christ-like response to other
people’s lies and bad behavior;
Goodness and self-control are a disciple’s response to every situation
that goads you to lose your cool and get even.
Try Christ way and discover it’s the better way.