Shaped by Splinters
Posted on January 14th, 2009 in Endurance | No Comments »
Press the arrow to listen to a Hillsong classic “I Will Run to You”. The song is old but the meaning is new.
Scripture
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27
Observation
If it were permissible to put exclamation points in the middle of a sentence rather than at the end, then this word of Jesus would have three of them.
Carry your cross!
Come after Me!
If not, you cannot be my disciple!
There is an ugly, splintered beast of a beam that lays in the middle of our path. It is impossible to miss. Jesus put it there so we would pick it up.
Then starts the race. We are to pursue after Jesus. What motivates us is that he is carrying a cross of his own that is far bigger than ours. Who are we to complain?
What motivates us to tote the cross is the thought of being in the inner circle of Jesus. There is only one way to get close to Jesus, and that is by shouldering responsibility as an act of worship. It is under the heavy load that we are closest to Christ.
Application
I don’t like splinters. I would rather sit on heavy things than carry them. But I love Jesus, and so I will chase after him with my own telephone pole strapped my back. Oddly enough, as I pick it up I find that it fits me and it is somehow supporting me as much as I am carrying it.
Prayer
Father, today, I take my weighted pursuit of Jesus. I may travel light, but Jesus does not. His love comes with responsibilities. I will not shirk them. I will follow. Amen.
