“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple…. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26-27, 33

Sobering Sovereignty

 Early Saturday morning, I turned on the news to read the shocking words on the screen, “American Missionary Killed by Islanders.” My thoughts of who it might have been were confirmed Sunday morning when Pastor Bryan addressed the death of the missionary that we had prayed for just months before, sending him out as a missionary to a place too remote and confidential to name.

It was a combination of this devastating news and Pastor Bryan’s words that caused tears to stream down my face. “Following Jesus Christ is serious business. It is not just about being American with only a focus on Him at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. You may not be required to lose your life, but are you willing to follow Him at any cost?”

I am far too comfortable in my life and my plan more often than I’d like to admit. I am sobered by the fact that I am not certain I would give ALL for Him. Am I willing to follow Jesus wherever He asks me? Am I willing to walk through any hard thing He brings my way?

This is what I know the Bible says about these things:

John 15:18: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”

 Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

During one of the testimonies given, I remember the words we were challenged with. One who has lost a home during the Carr fire shared, “I am convinced that everyone will go through some kind of hard experience in their life. You need to know in your heart ahead of time whether or not you believe that God is sovereign. If you believe that, you can make it through any dark time.”

Our young brother went to bring the Word of Jesus to people that did not know the good news, and went willingly, knowing what the cost might be, giving all of the glory to God.

I want the words of the song we sang at the end of service to be true:

“I have set my heart,
Set my, set my heart on You
You have every part of me,
I set my heart on you”*

Dear Jesus, I know that our brother’s death was in vain. You will use it for Your glory and for the furthering of Your kingdom. You are sovereign and I trust that anything You allow in my life is for my good and Your glory. Please help us to be serious about following Jesus, count the cost, and be counted as faithful disciples.

 

*Eddie Hoagland | Mia Fieldes | Todd Rukes // © 2016 All Essential Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)//Be Essential Songs (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)//HBC Worship Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)//Jingram Music Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)//Upside Down Under (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)