True Religion
Throughout Luke 14, Jesus explains to the religious leaders what it means to be a part of His kingdom ? the kingdom of God. He illustrates through parables what those who will come will look like. Then he asked them, If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?? 6 And they had nothing to say.~Luke 14:5
The first identification of a person who truly follows the ?law? of God (which is love, not Judiasm as they always were obligated to adhere to) is mercy. A good indication of where I am spiritually can be discovered when I assess whether religious rituals (going to church, attending ?ministry? meetings, reciting redundant prayers, etc.) are more or less important to me than showing mercy in any given situation. (Not that we shouldn?t or don?t do some ?religious? things, just what is their place?) Do I strictly adhere to my own standards of ?good religion? or do I elevate God?s wisdom of ?true religion? even when it interferes with my religious activities?
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.~James 1:27
Next he goes on to tell these religious people how they must sacrifice their positions and prideful ways following his example of humility in all situations.
But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ?Friend, move up to a better place.? Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.?~Luke 14:10-11
Why did he tell this parable?
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:
What is humility? Humility is not having to be recognized for who you are and what you are doing for Christ?if you do, it isn?t for him, it?s for you. Humility is a conscious decision to sit among the lowest social classes (in our culture I think of the elderly, children, physicall and mentally ill, or the financially or socially impoverished) and be identified with them rather than the social elite (the wealthy, physically and mentally strong, attractive, entertainers, etc.). Who do I choose to sit with day after day? Is it those who are important in the sight of the world that I am trying to place myself among or is it those who have been sovereignly placed into my world by God and are important to Him? Do I jump from religious conference to religious entertainer to up front ministry meeting to the next asking for admission fees and paying marketing executives to recognize me, or do I humbly sit with the hungry souls whom God has graciously placed before me offering freely to them the gifts the Lord has freely given to me? The answer will indicate whether humility is an identifying factor in my ?religion.?
Then Jesus said to his host, When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.~Luke 12:12-14
In the next parable it becomes clear what the outcome of these religious people are about to choose.
?But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ?I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.? 19 ?Another said, ?I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I?m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.?20 ?Still another said, ?I just got married, so I can?t come.?~Luke 14:18-20
Everyone who adheres to religion rathe than Jesus Christ Himself will make excuses about why they cannot forsake their ?law? and humble themselves for th work of true religion when invited to it. Their end is disasterous.
I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.??~Luke 14:24
But what is the end of those who do accept Christ?s call to true religion?
?If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters?yes, even their own life?such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.~Luke 14:26-27
I dealt with v26 in a note last week arguing that it is not the actual hating of these people but rather the willingness to leave the comforts and ease of familiarity and security for the sake of Christ. Verse 27 supports that idea. ??carry their cross?? What cross is Jesus speaking of? I think of Mark 15:21:
Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross.
What was Simon of Cyrene doing when called upon to carry Jesus?s cross? ?Coming out of the country?. It sounds strikingly familiar when thinking of Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Practicing true religion involves a sacrifice ? not only on the part of Christ for I, but I for Christ. I must count the cost before I set out lest I am overcome and working religously in vain. Am I willing to sacrifice religion along with all it?s vices? Am I willing to sit at the lowest places? Am I willing to serve without being recognized or rewarded?
If the answer is ?no? I will do the same as the first ones invited to the table (the Jews), and ?make excuses? all the while keeping up and practicing my religion. If that is the case, this world and it?s pleasures are all I have to gain and look forward to; of course I will pursue the best placees and most recognition. I have no further reward.
If the answer is ?yes? I will be willing to bear any and every cross that Christ blesses me with because I have truly forsaken all for him ? the love of my life. I will bear my crosses joyfully because I am salk and light and my sufering and sacrifice is not for my own glory and religion, but for the one I love. Whatever he asks me to do that is difficult will only make me see my new country all the more clearly and long for it all the more readily.
And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.~Hebrews 11:15-16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3EbIN95K_c
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Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
* Re-discovering the KINGDOM ? II
* The kingdom of God and the cross
* kingdom builders?