Being all in with Jesus

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Some friends came from out of town to visit us last week. They were only here 24 hours but it was probably the best 24 hours we have had in about two years. Not only do our friends love us but they love Jesus and it shows. We talked about a lot of things as we visited over coffee, lunch, dinner and ice cream sundaes. I’m not a fan of ice cream but somehow it tasted a lot better as we ate it with friends.

I’ve been reading in Luke 14:25-33. This where Jesus told us that in order to follow Him we needed to consider what it is going to cost us. It’s kind of like buying a house, if you have to ask about the listing price of the home you probably can’t afford it.

As someone said recently, “The crowds that followed Jesus loved His gifts, not the life He was calling them into so they could be one of His followers.”

My point is, and I do have one, I was sharing with one of my friends that I’m not always sure that the life of the average Christian and the life Jesus describes in Scripture matches up. In other words, we look a lot like the world. Have we renounced our lives (Luke 14:33), have we agreed to the terms of Christianity that Christ outlines in our Bibles? What have we given up for Jesus? Family, material things, dreams? Or have we cut in line?

Can we talk? I know this is private just between us but I think I can be just as selfish as my pagan neighbor. Who or what is really in control of my life? When are we going to remove the idols from the top shelf of our lives?

In Luke 14:28 Jesus says, “Kenny, sit down, open up the calculator on your phone and count the cost.” Have we made an intentional decision that we are all in with Jesus? If things fall apart, I’m good. If I have to suffer, I’m good. I’ve considered the cost and I’m good. Let’s go, Jesus, what are we waiting for?

The Blonde was telling me about a family she knows who plays a game they call, “Spot the Pastor.” Kind of a Where’s Waldo thing. If this family is at the airport or at the mall, wherever they are they try to pick out the pastor in the crowd. They say they are easy to spot. I’m really offended but since I am told I do not look like a typical pastor I will choose to find this game amusing.

I wonder if we played “Pick Out the Christian,” could they pick you out of a crowd? Could your neighbors, co-workers and even family pick you out as someone that follows Jesus? I’m not even sure what a Christian should look like. Probably most people think we have a pocket protector, high water pants (not the cool ones that Sid Mashburn wears) and all the women are dowdy, no makeup and always wearing a dress to their ankles (not the cool ones Ann Mashburn is wearing).

Last time I checked we are to be known by our love and when you start loving the unlovely, look out, it gets pretty western, pretty fast therefore we quit when the cost gets too high (remember what Jesus said).

Okay. That was a lot to unpack but are we tracking? If we are then let’s make the necessary decisions to live this full-send life Jesus talks about in Luke 14:25- 33. If not please stay after class.

He told me to tell you that.