EXACTING EXPECTATIONS
Luke 14:25-35
Part 1
Seeking solace and relief from pressures of his
Presidency, the great Abraham Lincoln was
often known to slip away to the midweek
service at New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. So as not to be disruptive, he would
sit in the pastor's study to listen to the sermon,
usually in the company of a young aide. On
one particular night, the aide asked Lincoln
how he liked the sermon.
"I thought it was well thought through,
powerfully delivered, and very eloquent,"
was the reply. "Then You thought it was a
great sermon?" the young man continued.
"No," said Lincoln, " it failed. It failed
because Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do
something great." When someone challenged
us to do something great, it nearly always
forces us to confront life-changing issues.
That may feel uncomfortable, even. agonizing.
But it also feels invigorating, exciting, right.
We yearn to hear the voice of God in our lives,
for He not only asks great things, He expects
great things. He told Noah, "Build an ark!"
He said to Moses, "Rescue My people!"
To David he ordered, "Fight the giant";
to. Elijah, "prophesy a drought"; to Paul,
Come to Macedonia and preach."
In our passage in Luke, Jesus speaks with
that same voice of authority, inspiring His
soldier to the highest level of devotion. Here
we find some of the most demanding words
in all the Bible. They're Penetrating, exacting,
and frankly tough. And they're for you, if you
desire to be a disciple of Christ.
Clarifying a Necessary Distinction
Jesus' words in this passage are not meant for
you, If you're never received His gift of
salvation. He doesn't expect people to follow
His commands if they have not been born again.
That would be like telling a dead person
stretched out in a casket, "Up and at 'em! Get
with it, soldier!" Christ has to breathe Spiritual
life into us before we have capacity to obey.
Once we receive Christ gift, we begin to
understand that He gave us life, not so that we
might live for ourselves, but so that we might
live for Him
(see 2 Cor.4:15). Exactly what does it mean to
live forHim? Jesus followers were asking that
question too, we can listen in on His answer
in Luke 14
Luke 14:25-35
Part 1
Seeking solace and relief from pressures of his
Presidency, the great Abraham Lincoln was
often known to slip away to the midweek
service at New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. So as not to be disruptive, he would
sit in the pastor's study to listen to the sermon,
usually in the company of a young aide. On
one particular night, the aide asked Lincoln
how he liked the sermon.
"I thought it was well thought through,
powerfully delivered, and very eloquent,"
was the reply. "Then You thought it was a
great sermon?" the young man continued.
"No," said Lincoln, " it failed. It failed
because Dr. Gurley did not ask us to do
something great." When someone challenged
us to do something great, it nearly always
forces us to confront life-changing issues.
That may feel uncomfortable, even. agonizing.
But it also feels invigorating, exciting, right.
We yearn to hear the voice of God in our lives,
for He not only asks great things, He expects
great things. He told Noah, "Build an ark!"
He said to Moses, "Rescue My people!"
To David he ordered, "Fight the giant";
to. Elijah, "prophesy a drought"; to Paul,
Come to Macedonia and preach."
In our passage in Luke, Jesus speaks with
that same voice of authority, inspiring His
soldier to the highest level of devotion. Here
we find some of the most demanding words
in all the Bible. They're Penetrating, exacting,
and frankly tough. And they're for you, if you
desire to be a disciple of Christ.
Clarifying a Necessary Distinction
Jesus' words in this passage are not meant for
you, If you're never received His gift of
salvation. He doesn't expect people to follow
His commands if they have not been born again.
That would be like telling a dead person
stretched out in a casket, "Up and at 'em! Get
with it, soldier!" Christ has to breathe Spiritual
life into us before we have capacity to obey.
Once we receive Christ gift, we begin to
understand that He gave us life, not so that we
might live for ourselves, but so that we might
live for Him
(see 2 Cor.4:15). Exactly what does it mean to
live forHim? Jesus followers were asking that
question too, we can listen in on His answer
in Luke 14
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