Tuesday, May 28, 2019

What if we wanted it all?

There are lots of songs on the 'all' spectrum.  There is Adele's song, "We Could Have Had It All."  But my favorite is John Legend's song, "All Of Me."  The lyrics go ... "All of me, loves all of you, all your curves and all your edges ... "  I like that line a lot!  Because Jesus has lot's of curves and edges!

John 21:15-19 describes one of these 'all of me' conversations.  Peter and the disciples meet Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  They have a fish breakfast (we had catfish at the monthly Fellowship Breakfast last week) and then Jesus starts up a conversation with Peter.  "Do you love me more than these?" Jesus asks Peter.  You remember the conversation.  Peter answers Jesus three times and then Jesus ends the dialogue with two words ... "Follow me!"  Follow Jesus through the difficulties.  Follow Jesus when you are caught up in the throes of life.  Follow Jesus through the curves life sends your way.  Follow Jesus when it takes you to the very edges of your faith.  Follow!

What if we truly wanted all of Jesus?  Not just Jesus the friend.  Not just Jesus our Savior.  But Jesus, the leader of the army that will storm the very gates of hell.  Or Jesus, our Lord!

It's easy to love and like Jesus the friend.  That's what Peter does when he answers Jesus with "Yes, I 'phileo' (friend, brother) you.  That Jesus fits snugly into our comfort zone.  That Jesus is the one we chum around with.  But that Jesus is only a small part of what/who Jesus should be.  Jesus wants us to have it all.  Jesus wants us to love all of Him!

It's hard to give up control to our true commander.  That Jesus sends us into the battle that causes us to sacrifice everything, even our lives.  "For what good would it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? (Matthew 16:26)."  Jesus has unpredictable curves and hard edges.  The edges are sharp ... "For the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart! (Hebrews 4:12)."  Does that sound comfortable or painful?  But that is the devotion and dedication our commander asks.

And Jesus our Lord is demanding ... not docile.  I love the quote from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis as the girl Susan talks to Mr. Beaver ... "Is he quite safe?  I feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."  "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ... "Who said anything about safe?  'Course he isn't safe!  But he's good!"  If you want a safe ... tame ... docile lord, you are not seeking Jesus.  If you want an unsafe God who looks all the way into your soul, dividing 'joint from marrow ... soul and spirit' then you are in luck.  Because that God asks ... "Do you love me?"  and then commands ... "Follow me?"

What if we wanted it all?  Randy

No comments:

Post a Comment