CARING FOR GOD'S CREATION

Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Philemon 1:1-21; Luke 14:25-33

Introduction 

A call of God to humanity to follow Him and serve His Kingdom business is at all times very demanding. This has been so because it is a call to partner with Christ to bring humanity into the saving arms of God. In as much as the soul of humans is precious to God, with our hardened hearts, we do not desire to submit for God's deliverance. 

Christ's Disciple is one who daily accepts to live and love the Lord our God in obedience by holding fast to his/her life here on earth and in death and partners with God to spread the Gospel to all humanity.

Talking of cost, it is the payment or the struggle or the pain one experience as a result of a decisive path one wishes to engage. It is for the joy of the goal one sets that the cost is counted as nothing. The Hebrews writer puts it, "looking to Jesus … who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame," Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

Moses' call to lead or disciple the Israelites from Egypt, God made know that it was going to be difficult that is why in the end God assured him of His presence (Exo. 33:14).

After Jesus had given disheartening words to a young rich man who run to Him for eternal life, some questions began to run through the minds of the disciples. Peter said, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Mark 10:28 (ESV). Jesus opens their minds to the joy of what is set before them saying, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold." Mark 10:29-30 (ESV) Leaving everything for Christ's sake is actually not all but "...now in this time, with persecutions"

When Christ called Paul, He told Ananias “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” Acts 9:15-16 (ESV)

Of course, there is a great joy, glorious honour, and respect in serving God Almighty who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet we must not lose focus on the truth of the cost to pay.

The caution. Peter in his writing cautions us not to intentionally find trouble for ourselves to say it is because we are disciples of Christ "But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God." 1 Peter 2:20 (ESV)

Jesus Christ had great followers as He was doing the work of the Father. This drew His attention to the point of showing them what really entails in being His disciple.

Many people are in the church today but do not have knowledge of the cost of being a Christian. Two things may be the reason;

1. Pastors are not ready to teach on it because they may leave their church. What keeps them in their churches is the "prosperity gospel". 

2. Christians refuse to look to the cost of discipleship to its gains because it is avoidable as you seek the beauty side. 

In Luke 14:25-33, Jesus speaks plainly to us about the cost of being His disciple. Let me discuss this in two parts;

1. Discipleship is about self-discipline. (Luke 14:26)

Christ's disciple will incur the displeasure of family members - father, mother, brothers, sisters, and children as well as the self.

Many Christians are being forced to go through some occultic family traditions. A few are able to resist and discipline themselves from such practices. Some end up being disowned, sent away from home, denied some basic needs of life, and others hang up on their academic pursuit. 

Some Christians have been convinced not to give (money and items) to the Church for an unending list of reasons. The body's desire to masturbate, fornicate, fight, refrain from some persons, deny some any help, etc. due to one reason or the other. Without discipline with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we cannot follow the Light. The disciple needs to seriously have a disciplined life to walk the Christian path. 

2. Discipleship is about the cross. (Luke 14:27)

The cross is the path to glory yet is full of shame and pains. This is more about the external pressures again the disciple. The world hates to witness a true disciple of Christ (John 15:18).

This is the path of false accusations, lies, hatred, shame, denial of justice, etc. It is only the disciple who has consciously taken up the cross who can endure to the end. Some Christians are pushed to compromise to conform seeing the possible hardship and shame which may fall on them. As a Christian, God wants you to carry your cross no matter what lies ahead. The cross is also about building relationships through total forgiveness. Paul sends Onesimus to Philemon and the other Christians as a beloved brother saying, "So if you consider me [Paul] your partner, receive him [Onesimus] as you would receive me. If he [Onesimus] has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my [Paul's] account." Philemon 1:17-18 (ESV)

The apostle Paul took to his cross and lived a disciplined life even in prison. He was recounting his imprisonment with all Joy in Christ Jesus. (Philemon. 1:12). He tells us the truth that there is always a reason for our hardships and troubles, hatred, and the cross for "advancing the Gospel".

Conclusion

Moses gives us a charge to discipleship drawing our attention to the importance of choosing life saying, "Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to" give you on the day of His coming, eternal life in Heaven. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV)