Let’s Get Dusty!
One of the phrases you hear a lot at TWP is, “Jesus shows up to take a walk with you.” This is absolutely true but even this has to be seen in the right perspective. Yesterday one of our children made the statement concerning something they want to do when they are older. The question to them was, “what if Jesus has other plans? You have to follow where He leads.” The child responds, I will walk with Him holding His hand. Basically, I’ll lead. This was a great opportunity to talk about the motives of our hearts.
Motives matter. Why we do what we do. Last week we talked about what governs us, love or fear. The message this week flows right into this. Jesus is calling each one of us to follow Him. Love causes us to want to be with Him in every moment. Love draws us to study His ways and His words. To watch His every movement. We all long for freedom in Jesus but we must be willing to do what that freedom requires. FOLLOW HIM!
“Jesus said to all of his followers, “If you truly desire to be my disciple, you must disown your life completely, embrace my ‘cross’ as your own, and surrender to my ways. For if you choose self-sacrifice, giving up your lives for my glory, you will discover true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will lose what you try to keep.” Luke 9
If you truly desire to be His disciple you must disown your life completely, embrace His cross as your own, surrender your life to His ways. Let’s sit with this statement from Jesus for a minute. Remember, your motives matter. Why you do what you do. Let’s look at the cross. What does it symbolize? How do you embrace His cross as your own? The cross represents sacrifice, redemption, and love. It offers victory and hope, grace and mercy. It is a call to discipleship. Jesus says, if you choose to give up your life for my glory you will discover true life. His cross as our own looks like sacrifice, redemption, love, hope, victory, grace and mercy. This should be the fruit represented in our lives if we are embracing His cross as our own.
Discipleship has lost its true meaning in the 21st century. Today people view discipleship as an opportunity to gain knowledge. Let’s go back to the meaning of disciple in the 1st century. When Jesus talked about us being a disciple He is referring to an apprentice. As an apprentice your number one goal was to be with your Rabbi. You attached your life to his. You followed him around watching and listening to every movement and word spoken.
Today, the church refers to disciple as a student or learner. A student comes to gain knowledge and get information for himself. An apprentice comes to attach his life to Jesus to become who Jesus is. In the first century, they had a blessing for those who followed closely behind their Rabbi. “May the dust of your master continually cover your entire body.”
How closely do you need to follow someone to have the dust from their sandals cover your body. To be honest, when Pastor Tim shared this blessing my first thought was, I have been “walking with the Lord” for over twenty years and I’m barely dusty. Like a white glove would remain white. In that moment, I could feel the fear of the Lord drawing me to His heart. We must be honest about our lives and where we are in this relationship with Jesus.
Are we following Him so closely that others can see His dust upon our lives. This isn’t a time for condemnation and shrinking back. It’s time to allow His love to draw us closer to Him.
The foundation of The Wilderness Place is One Thing: Jesus! We will tether ourselves to Him for a one thing lifestyle. Let’s Get Dusty.
