July 15, 2015

“Peter said…”Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.” Matthew 19:27-30

“Christianity proposes a radically different point of departure for a new life. When we fail to make sense of our lives, the failure can be attributed much of the time to random and wayward emotions and also to the absence of virtue, to vices and moral formlessness. In the familiar human muddle, seriousness about willing one’s redemption looks like the way to make one’s life worthy again. What is involved is daring to let G*d and G*d’s will govern and discipline my life when I tend to botch the job. That is a matter of giving up my willing and giving G*d’s will the energizing role….” Paul L. Holmer (1916 – ) “For All The Saints”, volume IV (p. 204 – 205)

Giving our lives to Christ, and then demanding our own way, or trying to command the ship on our own is not “leaving everything and following Jesus”, as the disciples did. It seems to me that, being a disciple of Christ is going to involve a constant “battle of the wills” — G*d’s will vs. our own will. Now, that may sound easy, as if we can decide each and every day to follow Jesus — and our lives will be great. Well, for some people that may be true. But I am reminded of the battles that rage in my mind and in my body — for example the battle of wills between eating right, and eating what I want — the battle of wills between exercising and doing what I want. If it were so easy to eat what I should and exercising like I should, I would be much healthier and slimmer (not that my body type matters). But anyone who has made a vow on December 31st to make serious changes in their lives understands (by about January 15) how difficult it is to maintain the will to change.

Listening to the “will” of G*d and then making good on following that “will” is a calling we all struggle to follow. It requires listening each and every day to the voice of G*d who wants us to join our wills with the divine’s.

Pastor Dave