Luke 14 is helpful to us in considering our relationships – how we view others, but more importantly to ask the question how do you view ourself? It’s a great question, especially in light of the fact that we live in a world suffering from a pandemic of individualism.
And when we make it all about ourselves, well some things happen that aren’t necessarily good. We drive like we own the road. We strive to be at the front of the line. We see others as to blame for any and all misfortunes. And this pandemic cannot be cured by any injection or medical aid.
The only thing that will address this pandemic is submission to Jesus. Remember that it was Jesus who said to his disciples in Luke 12:23f:
“23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
This is counter-culture – certainly not what the current trends are…
And how is it that we can come to terms with where we stand in relationship to others, for that is the question put to us last week? What is it we need to do or say, who is it we need to forgive? What difficult conversations are awaiting us, if we are to improve the land in which we live – which for most of us is our neighbourhood, inside or outside the church.
For God made us in his image.
Maybe you like Larrson cartoons – maybe you’ve seen this one.
Here is God in his kitchen creating earth – and along with trees, water, animals he adds mankind – and to make it interesting He adds some “jerks”.
Know any jerks? Ever notice how jerks are never you – us?
Hmmmm… maybe we have a blind spot? What do you think?
Let me take you back to Luke 14 for a few minutes… it begins we are told in the house of a prominent Pharisee. Now what do we know about Pharisees – it was a sect begun about 400 years before Jesus whose sole aim was to uphold the “holiness of God”. But their ambitions ran high and in doing so they began to make up rules…
Like – no riding bikes on Sunday – children should be seen and not heard – only perfect families are Christian… okay maybe those aren’t their rules, but we’ve been pretty good at reflecting their “phariscial rule”.
Now Jesus comes along and asks if it is okay to heal on a Sunday – you see what Jesus is doing is turning holiness as they saw on it’s head…
Holiness isn’t about what you don’t do – or can’t do – it’s about what you will do! Help someone else – Holiness is not about being in a place of prominence but rather about being a servant to others.
On the night in which Jesus is arrested and taken away to be crucified, what is it that Jesus will do? He will wash the feet of the disciples and then command them to do the same!
Graham Kendrick turned that passage of Scripture into a song:
From Heaven, You came helpless babe,
Entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
“Yet not My will but Yours”, He said
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
So let us learn how to serve
And in our lives enthrone Him
Each other’s needs to prefer
For it is Christ we’re serving
Chorus:
This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King
This is holiness – to be the servant of many… but to do so means measuring our relationships with honesty. It means being courageous with each other – being willing to say I am sorry – to forgive and to be forgiven.
None of this is easy but it is the way of the cross.
In the portion of Matthew – beginning in chapter 5 – Jesus is giving what we call the sermon on the mount.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. – NIV
Here’s how The Message version tries to help us.
Now imagine a Sunday morning meeting that when we ask for your tithe we say first… look everyone here in the eye. Do you need to say you are sorry to anyone? Do you need to give forgiveness to anyone? Do you need to make restitution to anyone?
When we were very young officers… I got into a disagreement with a man in the church… I was convinced I was right. (He might be wrong but he’s never uncertain)… it took some time but one morning early – knowing he would leave for work around 7:30 am, I drove to his house, knocked on the door, and went in and apologized. We hugged, we wept, he gave his forgiveness, and then we went on to be great partners in the gospel.
Want to do the offering again?
Maybe that relationship, which needs restoring, or mending, is not someone who is here today. That’s alright – we have the technology! I think you can find anyone on social media now – but I suspect you know how to reach that person.
Well, I think that’s enough save to say this. Maybe who you first and foremost need to have a restored relationship with is Jesus.
The apostle Peter can tell you about a broken relationship with Jesus – what it felt like to not only disappoint Jesus but to outright deny Him.
When Peter met Jesus on the shore of Galilee recorded in John 21 – Jesus had but one question for the remorseful Peter – “do you love me”?
Well – do you love HIm?
Hybrid Thoughts 