Sermon nuggets Weds Jan 14
Theme Called to Service
Verses- John 21:18-19 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Commitment of Service
Jesus told Peter commitment to service would require his life. What are you wiling to give up for Christ? Where is the limit or the line that will not be crossed when it comes to commitment?
In another setting Jesus taught in order to gain life one must lose it. There is no one whose love for Jesus isn’t rewarded many fold. The rewards may not happen in this life. Thomas aKempis wrote, “For he who loves God with his whole heart fears neither death or punishment, nor judgment, nor hell, because perfect love gives sure access to God.”
Peter was faithful in his commitment to service. Tradition tells us that Peter was led away in Rome and was crucified like our Lord on a cross only he requested to be crucified upside down since he was not worthy to die like Jesus.
The commitment to service is to follow where He leads us individually. Each person’s path is different. Most are not called to martyrdom. Most are called to be the light in the place we live with the jobs and responsibilities that we have. But the commitment to give our lives daily in service is no different than Peter’s commitment. It is not to follow Peter, or follow our heroes of the faith. It is to follow Jesus in character and faith and believe that He will lead us in ways that are not always of our plans or dreams. It is to watch the one who goes before us and brings victory through hard times.
It is an American perversion of the Bible to indicate that obedience will gain all the blessings of this life or never have trouble, or be healed of all infirmities. He tells us to take up your cross daily and follow Him. Some are martyred. Some are rejected by their families. Some have to decide between their spouse or Jesus Christ. Some may have to lose their job if they are consistent with their believers.
In the classic book, Imitations of Christ, Thomas A Kempis writes, “It is good for us that at times we have sorrows and adversities because they often make a man realize in heart that he is an exile, and puts not his hope in any world things. It is good that we at times endure opposition and that we are evilly and untruly judged, when our actions and intentions are good. Often such experiences promote humility and protect us from vain glory. For then we seek God’s witness in the heart when we are accounted cheap around men and evil is believed of us.”
We may ask during such times of testing if this can be God’s will. Yet we see that failure can shut a path which you were pursuing too eagerly and give us greater appetite for that which is unseen and eternal.
Dennis DeHaan tells a story in Our Daily Bread of when North Korea fell to the communists and all the Christians in one village were gathered into their church. The building was plain and simple and had a picture of Jesus on the wall. When the soldiers walked in, they took down the picture and put it on the floor. All who did not want to be shot had to come forward and spit on the picture. The first four people were set free. Next came a young girl. She bent down and wiped the spittle from the picture, then embraced it tenderly and said, “Jesus, I love you.” She was taken outside and shots were heard.
We may never have to make that kind of decision. Yet we have other choices where the issues are the same. Jesus said to his disciples if you love me, keep my commands. Following Jesus is the commitment of service even unto death if that is where His path leads. But it does not stop there.
Matt 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Pastor Dale
