The Extremists
Matthew 4:18-22 "While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."
We often read this portion of the Scripture and we astonish at their great faith to follow Jesus. We give them credit and we call them good disciples of Jesus. But ironically, when the same happens in our church or fellowship, we call such brothers and sisters as EXTREMISTS, slandering and discouraging them instead of living as such.
Do not be surprise that these EXTREMISTS who are willing to go to such extend in following Jesus, are the authentic FOLLOWERS of JESUS. Read the Gospels again and it is not hard to find that Jesus never called us to be church-going, normal-living "disciples". Simply, ALL TWELVE DISCIPLES of Jesus left whatever they were doing, and FOLLOWED Him. And yea, even Judas Iscariot the traitor.
Even as we are working hard to make sure our church is running Sunday services as usual, Fellowships organising activities as usual, don't forget that outside our comfortable circle, there are people dying without hearing the Gospel; people who thirst for hope and never find. We are downright selfish, should we keep that HOPE that Jesus charged us to bring to other, in our comfortable church.
The question is, do you trust God enough that He will take care of your studies, your career, your family and YOURSELF, even as you go all out for Him? Jesus called us to "deny [ourselves] and take up [our] cross daily and follow [Him]" (Luke 9:23), but He also said, "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33). He did not ask you to give up everything, He simply asked you to give up everything TO HIM, and believe me, He is wise enough to make sure it is well taken care of.
We often read this portion of the Scripture and we astonish at their great faith to follow Jesus. We give them credit and we call them good disciples of Jesus. But ironically, when the same happens in our church or fellowship, we call such brothers and sisters as EXTREMISTS, slandering and discouraging them instead of living as such.
Do not be surprise that these EXTREMISTS who are willing to go to such extend in following Jesus, are the authentic FOLLOWERS of JESUS. Read the Gospels again and it is not hard to find that Jesus never called us to be church-going, normal-living "disciples". Simply, ALL TWELVE DISCIPLES of Jesus left whatever they were doing, and FOLLOWED Him. And yea, even Judas Iscariot the traitor.
Even as we are working hard to make sure our church is running Sunday services as usual, Fellowships organising activities as usual, don't forget that outside our comfortable circle, there are people dying without hearing the Gospel; people who thirst for hope and never find. We are downright selfish, should we keep that HOPE that Jesus charged us to bring to other, in our comfortable church.
The question is, do you trust God enough that He will take care of your studies, your career, your family and YOURSELF, even as you go all out for Him? Jesus called us to "deny [ourselves] and take up [our] cross daily and follow [Him]" (Luke 9:23), but He also said, "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33). He did not ask you to give up everything, He simply asked you to give up everything TO HIM, and believe me, He is wise enough to make sure it is well taken care of.
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