Are You In Committed Relationship?

Are You In Committed Relationship?

A beautifully touching story emanated from Phoenix, Arizona, a few years ago. It was the account of a seven-year-old boy who accidentally fell into a two-hundred-seventy-five-foot well. For forty-five minutes the lad was trapped in darkness, with multiple fractures.

“Daddy, get me out of here,” he yelled.

“Don’t worry, son, and don’t be scared. We will get you out.

Just push against the sides of the pipe so you don’t sink.”

Eventually, proper rescue equipment arrived. A rope was lowered into the well. Mr. Stage, the lad’s father, gave specific instructions how to place the rope over his shoulders and beneath the arms, and to hold on. The boy obeyed, and was lifted to safety. The father commented: “He always did mind good.” Irrespective of grammar, there existed a trustful relationship between father and son.

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Trust and Triumph

A similar rapport should exist between a Christian and God.

A similar rapport should exist between a Christian and God.

G. Curtis Jones, 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1986), 189.

I. The Anatomy of Commitment “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”

Open up before God, keep nothing back;

he’ll do whatever needs to be done:

He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day

and stamp you with approval at high noon.

The acts of commitment and trust function like a trigger, releasing God’s capacity to act.

Peter C. Craigie, , 2nd ed., vol. 19, Word Biblical Commentary (Nashville, TN: Nelson Reference & Electronic, 2004), 297.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .

A. Etymology of commitment: the committing of oneself, pledge, promise is attested from 1793; an obligation or engagement(1864).

B. Hebrew meaning of commitment: galal- to roll away.

II. The Assignment of Commitment

Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.

When Jesus said, Come, follow me (4:19), he was calling these men to a new career. In keeping with his skill as a teacher, he used terminology that would inspire them because of its relationship to their life experience. These men knew how to fish—for fish. So they had some concept of the task to which he was calling them. However, even though they had some familiarity with the concept of fishing, Jesus would still need to transform them into fishers of men. And that is the point of most of the teaching that follows, including the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus taught his disciples! He trained the Twelve whose names would one day mark the foundation “stones” (; ; ) of the New Jerusalem!

Holman New Testament Commentary: Matthew D. The King’s Early Ministry (4:12–25)

When Jesus said, Come, follow me (4:19), he was calling these men to a new career. In keeping with his skill as a teacher, he used terminology that would inspire them because of its relationship to their life experience. These men knew how to fish—for fish. So they had some concept of the task to which he was calling them. However, even though they had some familiarity with the concept of fishing, Jesus would still need to transform them into fishers of men. And that is the point of most of the teaching that follows, including the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus taught his disciples! He trained the Twelve whose names would one day mark the foundation “stones” (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:20; Rev. 21:14) of the New Jerusalem!

Stuart K. Weber, Matthew, vol. 1, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 44–45.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I’m leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn’t, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God.”

9:23. Many of you have followed me from place to place waiting for healing and miracles, Jesus continued. You are seeking the wrong thing. Yes, I provide healing and miracles to those in need. Those are signs of God’s power as he brings his kingdom to earth through me. But that is not where this earthly ministry leads. The final road you travel as you follow me leads to a criminal’s cross. Not a gold cross on a chain that enhances the beauty of the wearer. Not a piece of art in a museum that enhances the reputation of the artist or brings awe to a young art student. Not a massive cross atop a cathedral that marks off a holy place. No! This cross is among the world’s cruelest instruments of torture. You cannot wear this cross. You must bear it. You bear it to the government’s place of capital punishment. It becomes for you the gas chamber, the electric chair, the lethal injection all rolled into one.

What does all this mean for us today? Self-denial. Quit looking for miracles and healing. Quit centering your attention on things that enhance and please you. Focus on Christ. Let him create a daily relationship with you. Find out what he wants you to do every day. Do it! Do not expect to win popularity contests, fame, fortune, or success. Be ready to suffer the rejection, pain, and death he suffered. His lifestyle leads to that. Only as you lead this lifestyle can you learn who the Messiah really is. Only this lifestyle leads to eternal life in heaven. Take up your cross and follow him to the death. Then you will find he is the life.

9:24–26. Looks deceive. The soldier who hears the command to march and then retreats is the one shot by the enemy—not the one who advances against the enemy. You do everything you can for self-protection and advancement. You may even become CEO or president or whatever goal you set out to achieve in life. Then comes the end. You look back. All is for naught! None of this has brought meaning for the present or hope for the future. Then you look at the person you laughed at and scorned, the person who accumulated nothing in this world, no money, no position, no prestige, no honors. Suddenly, you discover this person has meaning and hope that you only dream of. Why? He was willing to lose life, to let loose of life. Life itself and the accomplishments life could bring did not comprise his goals or dreams. Pleasing Jesus is all that mattered. And pleasing Jesus brought meaning here and hope beyond.

Yes, the world works for profit, gain. The person of the world may amass great profits and wealth. If in so doing he loses meaning, purpose, and hope in life, what is accomplished? He has lost self in return for wealth. Is that a fair trade-off?

Jesus finally applied the clincher. This world is not the focus. The final judgment is the focus. The world’s judgment does not matter. The local newspaper’s epitaph is not the final word on your life. The final word comes from the Son of Man returning to judge the world, revealing his glory and the glory of all heaven’s inhabitants. If you spend your time in this world trying to hide the fact that you really believed some things Jesus said, then Jesus will hide all the glory from you. Is that the price you are willing to pay? Worldly glory? Heavenly glory? Which matters most to you—the world’s ways or God’s ways? Which are you following—the world’s wealth or Christ’s reward? Which will you receive?

9:27. Jesus shocked his disciples and everyone else who heard this statement. He also shocks us with it. Two thousand years later, we have not seen the kingdom of God. Or have we? The disciples expected the kingdom to bring victory and political domination. We expect the kingdom to bring final judgment and reward. Jesus showed his disciples a preview of the kingdom glory in his transfiguration, which will follow immediately. He let them see the kingdom at its beginning point, not at its climax. This kingdom came when he was exalted on the cross, when he was glorified in the resurrection, and when he was enthroned in the ascension. This kingdom came when Pentecost brought previously unknown kingdom power to bear on earth and reaped an unprecedented harvest into kingdom membership.

Peter’s confession of Messiah did not bring the kingdom. The disciple’s successful preaching and healing mission did not bring the kingdom. Only the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Son of Man brought the kingdom into view so people could see its power and glory—a power and glory that will be even further magnified when the Son of Man comes in the glory of the Father and his angels to judge the earth. Who sees that kingdom and participates in it? Those who follow the Son of Man on the path to the cross.

Trent C. Butler, Luke, vol. 3, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 146–147.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .

A. Follow the Lord

B. Focus on the Lord

C. Flow with the Lord

i. in your loving

in your loving

ii. in your living

iii in your leading

iv. in your leaving

v. in your lamenting

vi. in your lending

III. The Agonies of Commitment

A. There’s a cross

B. There’s a cost

Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought. Then God spoke to him: “Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I’ve instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you.”

10–11  So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the entrance of the village he met a woman, a widow, gathering firewood. He asked her, “Please, would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink.” As she went to get it, he called out, “And while you’re at it, would you bring me something to eat?”

12  She said, “I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don’t have so much as a biscuit. I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. After we eat it, we’ll die.”

13–14  Elijah said to her, “Don’t worry about a thing. Go ahead and do what you’ve said. But first make a small biscuit for me and bring it back here. Then go ahead and make a meal from what’s left for you and your son. This is the word of the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought.’ ”

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .

IV. The Advantages of Commitment A. There will be the Release of Blessings

Come. Sit down. Let’s argue this out.”

This is God’s Message:

“If your sins are blood-red,

they’ll be snow-white.

If they’re red like crimson,

they’ll be like wool.

If you’ll willingly obey,

you’ll feast like kings.

But if you’re willful and stubborn,

you’ll die like dogs.”

That’s right. God says so.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .

B. There will be Relief from Burdens

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.Matthew11:28-30

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .

C. There will be the Reciprocation of Benefits

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

9–11  Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), .