JESUS INVITES ALL TO ACCEPT GOD’S GRACE, BUT WITH GRACE COMES DEMAND.
Luke 14:25-35
“Is this march to Jerusalem a parade? The crowds must think so; everyone loves a parade.” Fred Craddock, 1928-2015
LOVE FOR JESUS MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ALL OTHER LOVES.
Matthew 22, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
“With man, it is impossible. But with God, call things are possible.”
Here’s how MacArthur captured it: “The first role of successful merchandising is to give consumers what they want. If they want bigger burgers, make their burgers bigger. Designer bottled water in six fruit flavors? Done. Minivans with ten cup-holders? Give ‘em 20. You’ve got to keep the customer satisfied. You’ve got to modify your product and your message to meet their needs if you want to build a market and get ahead of the competition. Today, this same consumer mindset has invaded Christianity. The church service is too long, you say. We’ll shorten it. One pastor guarantees his sermons will never last more than seven minutes. Too formal? Wear your sweat suit. Too boring. Wait till you her our band. If the message is too confrontational or too judgmental or too exclusive, scary, unbelievable, hard to understand or too much of anything else for your tastes, churches everywhere are eager to adjust the message to make you more comfortable…we’ll get rid of moral absolutes and accountability. Churches promise informal, relaxed, casual atmosphere. One church pushed themselves as a fun church. It’s Christianity for consumers. Christianity lite. Watering down. Misinterpretation of the Bible to make it more palatable and popular. It tastes great. It settles light. It panders to your feelings and scratches your itch.”
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE AND HE HAS A RIGHT TO BE ADORED AND WORSHIPED AND LOVED AND SERVED AND OBEYED.
There are two key words here:
- All that he has – the original Greek word is only used in the New Testament to denote earthly possessions. It’s all about the stuff we have, or more accurately, the stuff that has us.
- Renounce – I love how one translation captures this Greek word – to say adieu. To say goodbye by dismissing or departing. It can also mean to make a decisive break.
I love how MacArthur sums it up: “Lightness will never fill you up with the true saving gospel of Jesus Christ because it’s designed by people, not God. It’s hollow and worthless. In fact, it’s worse than worthless because people who hear the message of Christianity light think they’re hearing the gospel, think they’re being rescued from eternal judgment when, in fact, they’re being tragically misled.”
Philippians 3:12-16
SOLI DEO GLORIA…To the Glory of God Alone