Sold Out

Have you been there? So committed to something that you were willing to risk everything to get it?

That's what these verses are talking about Luke 9 - 57:62

Why?

Selling out means a number of different things, but in their root a common denominator is shared. Commitment to a specific cause for any reason. As I've grown older, I've found it's easier and easier to "say" you're doing or are something and less and less easy to actually "be" that thing. I don't know specifically if it is a product of age, wickedness or what, but I know that my commitments feel different and less apt to be persistent than when I was 21.

Let us look at the verses.

57. And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain [man] said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head.

59. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


These are separated in the text and represent a slightly different meaning each, so we'll take them that way. There are three people that Christ speaks to - two that approach him and one that he approaches. **Interesting to note**All have the same destination in mind, yet Christ does not respond to each of the same exactly. We've all done it right? We've seen that circumstance we've learned and we simply dispense a repetition of the message we've learned, believing that it is universally applicable. Yet - Christ doesn't do that for 3 people who share the same 'kind' of situation.

First - a man comes to Jesus and claims his loyalty. Yet, Jesus does not immediately accept him does he? He doesn't say, "Yeah man! Great deal, you'll be great for the flock!" What does he do? Let's take a look. Jesus responds to the man that foxes have homes and birds have homes, but that the son of man has no home here on earth. Said another way - that the son of man will not find rest on this earth from his troubles. Home represents that for us. Home represents a sigh of relief after a hard days work, or load of troubles. In this case Jesus hyperbolically demonstrates that lowly birds and dogs have places to sleep, but that you, by following me, will not even have a place to rest your head. What should that mean to us?

First and foremost I want to demonstrate that if your life is easy, and you like it, and you don't appear to have too much trouble on the horizon....WONDER ABOUT THAT. God does not desire your life to be misery, but how much are we committed to the idea of being sold out for Christ? Jesus said that if you walk with me, the world is against you. Raise your hand if you've EVER been persecuted for your faith even on the most minute level. What does that say about you? Not all were called to be missionaries or preachers, or prophets, yet each of us are member of the body, with a fitting purpose that we're to discover and live out. Jesus was showing this man, that his purpose would diametrically oppose the world, and that's just the start of things.

In the second example, Jesus approaches a man, and commands him to follow him. Now, for Christians, the concept of the Creator saying for you to do anything is an easy concept to understand. It may be even easier to think that we would have done as he asked, knowing who he is. Do not deceive yourself, this represents more of us that even we would like to believe. Yet, here is the creator, speaking to a merely mortal in body man, and politely asking him to follow him. His response?

I need to go bury my dad...

Did Jesus know that? Of course!

But this guy clearly misses the point - Jesus knows who his Dad is, he created him. The specific example clearly epitomizes how the relationship with Christ works and more importantly how we generally react to it.

The relationship and all that is important is encompassed in Jesus and You. Not Jesus and your family, extended or otherwise. The cares of this world are shackles that prevent you from bonding to Jesus as his servant. This guy clearly missed the opportunity to throw off the cares of this world and take up the cross of Jesus and follow him. He had the perfect excuse even, the creator of the world and heavens said for him to do it!!! In our lives, we're being asked daily by Christ to take up his cross. In our speech, in our actions, in our thoughts, by the pastor, by the Bible and yet, each time we reject that...how?

• I don't want to go to church tonight, I'm tired.

• Let's not sit next to that new couple, I'm sure their nice, but I don't want to be uncomfortable.
• When I shake hands at church, I should introduce myself, but they didn't so I won't
• Tithing just seems like an old-testament thing - God doesn't need my money
  

• I probably should go up to the front of the church and confess my weakness to them, but I'm afraid of rejection.
• Baptism can't really be necessary, God wouldn't want me to be embarrassed as I so easily am
  
• I should read my Bible more, I just don't and I don't know why.
• I'm content watching my tv shows and spending time with my kids - I'm tired at the end of the day with all the work I have - I mean 2 kids, 2 jobs, 2 dogs, 12k of credit card debt...
  
• My job is so demanding

WHY?! WHY do we do this? The King of All is requesting YOUR presence and you are busy watching Friday Night Lights.

Putting on the Armor of God and being ready to fight at any time is work - to be sure. But it's work that is ultimately rewarding and actually provides a retirement account. Matt 6:20

The last example is really where selling out comes into play.

A man makes a commitment, yet in that commitment, he creates for himself barriers to fulfilling it. Let me say goodbye to my family. This is weakness, and God strikes it down by saying, if you're not ready to follow me now, you're not ready for my kingdom.

How piercing to be told that your commitment means nothing!!!! Yet so many so-called Christians actually live this example out daily. As with some of the bullet points above, people are afraid to speak out their faith. Afraid to condemn sin, afraid to witness at work, afraid to be a witness for fear of hypocrisy claims, fear, uncertainty and doubt are not things of the Father and if you live them, you are not of the Father.

What do I mean by that? Do I mean that Christians aren't allowed to doubt? Yes! And No. Faith requires building; it's not instantaneous for most people. Yet, once you've uncovered that which is true and holy about God, you cannot doubt since you know that doubt is not of God. If you have doubt, it is either Satan at work on you, for which you are to rebuke him, or you are NOT of the Kingdom.

Live out your faith, but do not pray loudly as to be heard, only submit yourself and all the things you do, to the will of God. He will make your paths straight by you continually acknowledging that he is the King. In all ways demonstrate that your life is bonded to the will of our King - first by seeking, second by understanding and lastly by proclaiming. Do not let doubt, or fear guide how you live your life as a Christian.

For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Luke 9:25

What Faith Did They Require

In Luke there is a story about how Jesus when to cross the Sea of Galilee and while crossing it, the gale force winds picked up, threatening to sink the ship. This of course startled the disciples; so much so that they sought to rouse the sleeping Jesus to inform him that they we're in peril. His response to them once he'd calmed the storms was..."where is your faith?"

As I read this in my Bible this morning I occurred to me that faith without action, isn't really faith. Then I reasoned, what action could they have taken that would have demonstrated faith in God?

I was perplexed. Here I am staring at a well known story, with my whole faith in the balance. What actions did he require?

You see it's more than a few mere actions, or just a belief system. It's a way of life. Let's back up in that same book and you can see something special happening.

Luke 5:4-6
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

It's interesting to note that when Luke obeys Jesus's command, he is NOT demonstrating faith! He's merely obeying someone who clearly appears to be in authority. In fact when you listen to his response he say " hey buddy, I been at this all night, I've lived a fishermans life, I know when to call it quits...but because you're in my boat and we're in deep water...and you're preaching in front of allllllll these people - I'll do it. It wasn't until the net's were full that faith actually arrived.

7. And they beckoned unto [their] partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8. When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:


So fast forward back to my original question - what act of faith could they have demonstrated? My belief is the act of submission to the will of God. He can restore my life, my wealth, my family, my anything from complete ruin, but he will not do so for an un-submissive heart. They could have not panicked, and they could have held up under the strength in faith that Jesus is but to ask us to put our nets over the side and he will fill them.

So as you go through your day and things aren't going the way that you think they should - look for the ways in which you can act out your faith. Since it's Jesus who fills the nets, but only when you cast them over the side in submission. And through your submission you can build a faith that honors God.