Let Go and Listen Up

Scripture: Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this [he was the Messiah] to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Luke 9:21-22

Observation: This is pretty clear. Peter said Jesus was the Messiah, and Jesus promptly points out that the Messiah is going to be rejected, rebuked, and killed. This was also pretty clear from the prophets in their pronouncements of the Messiah. Yet over and over the disciples don't understand this path, going so far as declaring it untrue and attempting to prevent it later.

Application: Have I ever had God reveal to me an obvious truth, only to respond "no, Lord, that cannot be true"? Yes, of course I have. And it always revolves around something that is opposed to what I WISH were true.

This is the first truth about obedience then - we tend to start down a path of disobedience when God's way is different than our wishes, dreams, hopes and plans. And this is EXACTLY what Jesus says next in this same passage ... Luke 9:23-25 says “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?"

Jesus is making a direct and explicit connection between discipleship and personal plans. If you have a wish or plan in your head of your own devices, you are on your way of losing your eternal life. You are going to ignore clear and obvious direction from God, you'll miss out on even the most obvious elements of God's will, and you'll forfeit your very self in pursuit of the world.

This is what I have done. I have tried to plan my life, and EVERY time I do my plans fail AND I get frustrated AND I start to lose my relationship with God. This was something I was just praying about last night ... that the place I am "stuck" in life is with my job, but not because I have had the same job for a long time, but because I am dissatisfied with my job and have tried to change my career without success. Instead, I need to understand God's will for me, in this place, at this time, with these people, and have him show me how I can bring his kingdom, will, love, and goodness here. I need to look beyond my desk, and begin to seek his guidance into how my circumstance could be totally different if only I listened for his direction here, instead of seeking my own wishes about what I could be doing next.

Prayer: Lord, I want to let go of any care about my career pursuits. You have ALWAYS provided PERFECTLY for me, and I trust you to always do so. I will dwell where you put me, do what you ask of me, and listen for your instruction. Thy will be done. Amen.