Tag: rejecting Christ

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Luke Luke 19

If we are determined to reject Christ

Luke

There is another point to this story that Jesus told that we didn’t get to touch on yesterday.

It says in verses 12-15,

A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return….

But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

He was made king, however, and returned home. (Luke 19:12-15)

This was actually based on a true story.

When Herod the Great died, one of his sons Archelaus had to go to Rome to have his kingship ratified since they were the true power in Israel at that time.

The Jews, however, sent an embassy to Caesar Augustus basically saying that they didn’t want him as king.

Ultimately, Archelaus received charge over Judea, but did not receive the title of king.

In the same way, Jesus is awaiting his Father’s “ratification” of his kingdom. But to this day, there are people who hate him and say, “We don’t want this Jesus as our king.”

But whether they want him as king or not, Jesus will be king someday. And if these people continue in their rejection of him, they will be judged and condemned as the people in Jesus’ story were.

How about you? Have you made Jesus king in your life?

He will be king whether you want him to or not. Would it not be better to turn over your life to him willingly, rather than to fight it and be condemned for all eternity?

I don’t mean to try to “scare the hell out of you.” I’d much rather talk about God’s love and grace.

And God does truly love you. He sent his Son to die on a cross so that your sins could be forgiven and you could have peace with him.

But if you spit on that peace offering, and are determined to reject Jesus as king, then only judgment remains.

The apostle John wrote,

Whoever believes in [Jesus] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:18)

The choice is yours. What will you choose?

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Luke Luke 14

Counting the cost

Luke

As the large crowds followed Jesus, I wonder if Jesus was searching their hearts as to why they were following him?

Were they following him because of the miracles? Because of his great teachings? Or was it truly because they believed he was the Messiah and wanted to follow him?

And so he issued a very strong challenge, saying,

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my disciple.

And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-27)

In other words, “Are you really wanting to be my disciple? To be my disciple is costly. It may cost you your family and even your very life.”

Jesus never promised that life would be easy if we followed him. In fact, he promised exactly the opposite.

Carrying a cross wasn’t pleasant. Neither the carrying of it, nor what happened when you finally put it down.

But Jesus said that unless you carry that cross, unless you are willing to suffer whatever trials you may go through because you’re following him, you cannot be his disciple.

Easy words? No way.

He then challenged us to count the cost of following him. We are to count the cost in two ways.

First, the cost of following him. And he compared it to a person building a tower. If a person doesn’t count the cost beforehand, and cannot complete the tower, everyone will ridicule him.

In the same way, anyone who starts following Jesus and then gives up because it’s too hard will be put to shame.

But there’s another cost to count. The cost of not following him. Jesus said,

Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. (Luke 14:31-32)

The truth of the matter is, we are either at peace with God or at war with him.

You may not think you’re at war with God, but if you choose to reject Jesus, that’s exactly what you are.

The Bible says that God sent his Son to reconcile us to himself. But there’s no need for reconciliation where there is peace.

So Jesus tells us, “Think very carefully whether you can really afford to be at war with God.

When a king considers warring against another nation, they take into account if they can possibly win. And if they can’t, they do all they can, as quickly as they can, to make peace.”

We need to do the same, although in our case, God has already sent out the peace offerings.

But it has to be on his terms, and that’s by accepting Jesus’ payment for your sins on the cross.

If you accept it, you will find life. But if you reject it, and you die in that rejection, you will find out just how terrible the enmity between you and God is.

So make peace with God while you still can. God has called us to be salt in this world. To flavor our world with his love and his light.

Don’t be cast out as worthless because you chose to reject him instead.

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Luke Luke 2

The One who causes many to fall

Luke

Merry Christmas to the rest of you celebrating Christ’s birth in the world! (It’s already the 26th in Japan…and all Christmas decorations are already gone).

Anyway, this passage strikes me, because the words that were spoken by Simeon are just as true today as they were when Christ was first born.

Simeon was a godly man, and somehow God had revealed to him that he would not pass away until he had seen the Messiah, the one who would come to save Israel…and the world. And when Simeon saw Jesus with his own eyes, he prayed,

Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel. (Luke 2:29-32)

But while Joseph and Mary marveled at his words, Simeon warned them,

This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.

And a sword will pierce your own soul too. (Luke 2:34-35)

Truer words have never been spoken. For as many people accepted Jesus as their Messiah, many more rejected him. As many people honored the name of Jesus, many more cursed it.

And because of the Jews’ rejection of Him, it caused a piercing to the soul of Mary, who had to watch him crucified before her very eyes.

But while Simeon’s words were true of Israel in that time, they are just as true in the world today. Because while many people honor the name of Jesus, and worship him as Lord, so many others curse his name and reject him.

In doing so, they reveal the true state of their hearts.

For while many people may seem “good,” by rejecting the One who came to die for their sins, they show their rejection of God and his ways in their hearts. Instead they insist on living their own way whether God approves or not.

And seeing this pierces the souls of all who truly love Him. Especially when we see our loved ones reject Him.

I suppose at Christmas time, it’s especially painful to see. That at the time we rejoice in Christ’s birth, yet people choose to reject him.

Christ said that he didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34).

Some of you may say, “But what about the angels’ words at Christ’s birth, ‘peace on earth’ and all that?”

Christ did indeed come to bring peace, peace between God and us. But he is also a dividing point. People divide because of his name. Families divide. Friends divide. It’s inevitable because not everyone will believe.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: If you are truly going to follow Christ and preach his name, you cannot please everyone. Not everyone will like you.

Why? Because if they hate Christ, can you truly expect them to love you?

Jesus told us,

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.

As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)

So let us not waste time trying to make everyone love us. Instead, let us love Christ and preach his name. Because while some may fall because of him, some will rise and find life in his name.

And if those you love find him, isn’t it worth it?

God bless, and Merry Christmas!