Obeying Him is worth the cost!

6 December. Day 6.

I have to be honest with you. It has not been very easy to squeeze in the time to read just one chapter of the book of Luke over the past few days, never mind to reflect, think about and write what God lays on my heart to share on that chapter. This time of the year is definitely marked by busy-ness and so many (wonderful!) events!

I guess in some ways, being a disciple and following Jesus is also not the easiest thing. There are so many accounts in the Word of Jesus saying and doing and asking people to do things which, in that day, would have been frowned upon. Take a look at Luke chapter 6.

In verse 5 he brings a new revelation that “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” If you know the books of the law in the Bible, you will be familiar with the concept of the sabbath and the religious rules that the Jewish people were expected to uphold in terms of this. And now Jesus comes and says that He is the lord of the Sabbath and therefore has rule and reign over it and it’s principles. Definitely not the order of the day for some!

Verse 10 “And after looking around at them all he (Jesus) said to him, “Stretch our your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.”

In complete obedience this man responds to Jesus and is immediately healed. He was not concerned about what the people around him were thinking or what judgements they were making. Jesus commanded. He obeyed. The blessing of healing followed.

Verse 27 says, “But I say to you you hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

Um, did I read that correctly? Love my enemies? Do good to those who hate me? Gosh! This is such a great idea, but outworking it? How often do we think, if only Jesus were in my circumstance and if only he actually knew what this person does or has done to me. He really wouldn’t expect that from me. Interesting that he didn’t give any criteria of when and whom of your enemies to love. And the word love has a capital L!

Chapter 6 is full of kingdom thoughts and kingdom ways of thinking and living! Thank the Lord he gives us his amazing gift of grace and mercy in order to follow him and be his disciple. He wants us to partner with him on the journey of becoming like him.

Obeying him is worth the cost as verse 47 and 48 confirms, “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them (obedience), I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”

Have you considered building your life’s foundations on the rock that is Jesus? The storms of life will come, but if your life’s home is secured to Him and the solid rock that his foundation gives, you will not be shaken! This advent, build your house upon the rock!