On Sabbath we took another step with Jesus on the path to discipleship. True disciples are those who make a total commitment of their whole being to the lordship of Christ.
Rewind to Luke 14:26, 27. When Jesus said that disciples of His must “hate” their loved ones in order to follow them, He was using typical Oriental exaggeration to make a point. Jesus was talking about loyalty and priorities of the heart. And according to our Rabbi, true disciples subordinate everything—every relationship, every ambition, every desire and even one’s own’s own life—to the lordship of Christ.
Sadly, many church members fail to launch into discipleship because they have too many competing priorities in their lives that are more important to them than their relationship with Jesus. This defines casual Christianity. Sexual activity between people who don’t know each other well, or are in an established relationship, is known as casual sex. Religious activities without an established relationship with Christ is casual Christianity. It is uncommitted, and without serious intention. And because our Christianity is casual, and not taken seriously, it’s not taken seriously by anyone else either—including the devil.
A great example of competing priorities and lack of commitment is seen in the parable of the great supper recorded just before this incident. [See Luke 14:15-24.] The rude guests were satisfied with things other than the Master’s presence. Are we in danger of the same things? Discipleschip calls for the entire and permanent renunciation of self.
What does it mean to “surrender all?” It means that there is no area of my life where Jesus is not Lord. If I can praise God that there is no sin in my life that the blood of Jesus cannot cure, there should be no place in my life where Jesus is not Lord. He gives me total forgiveness and asks of me total commitment.
Jesus’ teaching on discipleship is really an application of Deuteronomy 6:4-5, known to every Jew as the Shema. Jesus quoted the Shema in Mark 12:30: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” The literal Hebrew translation of Shema is “Hear (and obey).”
To love God with all your heart is to love with all your inner life (thoughts, emotions, beliefs). To love God with all your soul (Nephesh—that which breathes) is to love with all your life (every breath and every moment throughout your life). But the phrase “Love God will all your strength” is literally translated, “to love God with all your very.” The word “very” is me’od (meh-ODE) in Hebrew, an intentionally awkward construction meaning “with all your oomph!” Worshipers of the true God and followers of Jesus Christ love God with all of our very everything!” It is loving God with everything you’ve got—and above everything else.
But it’s not just family relationships that must be subordinate to the Lordship of Christ, but our inner life–emotional wounds, griefs, hurts and hatreds, prejudices and indignations. Can you surrender your right to be right? Your need for revenge? All your very!
And that’s why I must surrender all—because I can’t make it without all of Him ruling over all of me. I need a total makeover, not just a touch-up.
Do you feel that you are too short and the height requirement of discipleship is too high? Don’t fear. “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” (Isa. 59:1) It’s God’s height that matters, not yours. God’s Hesed is our security. Hesed is God’s life-long love, based in a covenantal relationship. “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love [hesed] for you will not be shaken” (Isa. 54:10).
Hesed speaks of a completely underserved kindness and generosity done by a person who is in a position of power and who keeps his covenant long after there’s no reason to continue keeping it because of our repeated failure. It is because of God’s unfailing love that we have hope.
If you are missing the mark today, know that even though all our “very” falls short, all His “very” never fails! His arms are open wide to receive you, but yours must also be opened wide to receive Him. You can’t embrace your Savior if your arms are already embracing other things. You’ve got to let them go so you are free to hold on to Jesus with everything you’ve got—all your heart, all your mind, all your very. How do we get there? Trust His Hesed for you, and know He’s loving you with all His very! –Pastor Randy
