Humility and the Cross
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
What does it mean to be a Christian? To be a follower of Christ?
One could say that a Christian has been forgiven of their sins, reconciled to God, adopted into the family of God, given new life—given eternal life. But is there more to it—more to what it means to be a Christian?
Is it just what God has done for us? Or, does the work of God affect the way we do “life”?
Purpose
We are about a month away from reflecting on the Crucifixion of Christ—and His resurrection.
So, I want us to look at what Christ’s Cross means as it interfaces with our life TODAY! Does the Cross shape how we live life?
Listen to what Jesus said: (It is one of His most difficult statements)
Text
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Transition
I wonder how much a soul is really worth?
According to datagenetics.com, the chemical value of a human being is: $160.00
According the Salary.com, a mother (if paid annually for comparative work) should be paid a median salary of: $162,581.00.
For God, you are worth so much more: He gave His beloved Son, to take your place in spiritual death.
When we look at the Cross—we see how much God loves us.
The Cross and Christ’s Invitation
Jesus uses the image of the Cross to help us understand what it means to follow Him.
Crucifixion is a shocking metaphor for discipleship. A disciple must deny himself (die to self-will), take up his cross (embrace God’s will, no matter the cost), and follow Christ.
That may seem too high a price to follow Jesus—maybe even an unfair proposition.
But the spiritual reality is that...
We Have a Choice.
We Have a Choice.
According to Psychology Today (Eva Krockow), it is estimated that a person makes about 30,000 decisions every day.
Just to get ready and come to the worship service today required multiple choices (what time to get up, what to wear, what to eat, how to eat, all the choices related to driving to the church…).
ILLUSTRATION: 30 years ago, on a Sunday, my pastor asked me to drive him and his wife to a restaurant.
Part of my compensation for serving as youth pastor was to get a free meal every Sunday.
As I was driving back to church from the restaurant, I was driving a little fast (my choice)—going 58 mph rather than 55 mph.
I was pulled over and I received a ticket (my first and only speeding ticket (I did receive a ticket about ten years ago for following too closely to the car in front of me).
The police officer gave me no mercy (primarily because he was my pastor’s cousin and they did not get along).
By the way—the pastor felt so bad for me, he gave me a raise.
The choices about driving, or eating, or our conversations, or our activities have different consequences.
The choice concerning our soul and our relationship with God have the greatest consequence.
In ancient Israel, a leader by the name of Joshua was nearing the end of his life.
He wanted to leave the people with important instructions.
But there was something most important—a choice:
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.
15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
The choice that we face is: God or anything else. That is the choice. There is no third choice: God AND anything else. It is God OR anything else.
The key point is that God has given to each one of us a choice—whether to trust and obey Him—or to reject Him.
And, the way that choice is made is highly influenced by something important.
Our Attitude Shapes Our Choice.
Our Attitude Shapes Our Choice.
The real choice is actually ME or GOD. And, it is our attitude that will inform our decision.
Look at the attitude Jesus Himself displays as He decides to suffer and die for humanity:
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The attitude Jesus demonstrates is the same attitude that we must cultivate in our life to make the right decision.
That attitude is HUMILITY.
What is our attitude as it interfaces with people and with God?
Often, the choices we make center on our personal wellbeing—our safety, our security, our comfort—and how we can advance ourselves—elevate ourselves when it comes to others.
But humility is a radical departure from all of that.
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians (which I read to you just moments ago), the context of Jesus’ attitude is to inform our attitudes toward others.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Paul connects that attitude of Jesus as a model on how we too should embrace humility as a way of life.
When it comes to choosing God and His way—it means we need to set aside that desire—that passion for self-preservation and advancing our social status—and humbly surrender to God.
What does this mean?
Choosing God and His Way is Hard.
Choosing God and His Way is Hard.
No wonder why Jesus said:
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
We live in an environment that is consistently apposed to the way of Jesus.
The culture has an ever-changing set of rules of right and wrong. And in order to “get along” with society, the pressure abounds to conform. That is part of preserving safety, security, and our position. More than that, we want to be happy. And so, we do those things that make us feel good.
But God has established right and wrong based on His character. He created us in Him image—and humbly submitting to His way is the only way that will bring genuine peace, hope, and joy.
Everything but God will eventually let us down—sooner or later.
But there is this tug-of-war between our culture/ourselves AND God.
The Apostle Paul describes that inner conflict:
18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
It seems hopeless to choose to humble ourselves and follow Jesus. But look at what Paul discovered:
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
It is through Jesus—our Savior—that we can follow in His footsteps and embrace the way of the Cross.
It is why Paul exclaimed:
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
It is through the miracle work of Jesus that somehow, someway we can set aside our hopes, plans, and dreams and live for him.
That’s what happened to Paul. So he could confidently say:
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
So, chose today to lay it all down—and be all-in for God. That is the way of Jesus. That is the way of the Cross. That is what it means:
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
That is the way we need to live life!
Conclusion
What is your choice today—right now? Whom will you serve?
Questions for Personal Reflection and Group Discussion:
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Why is it difficult to follow Jesus?
What may be the problems associates with humility?
How can culture/society shape the way we interpret the Scriptures? What should we do when society differs from the way of God? Why is this difficult?