SOMETIMES I FEEL GUILTY – – –
Sometimes I feel guilty for all the serious stuff I write. That maybe I’m like heavy clouds that hide the sun of others’ happiness. An Eeyore who wants to spoil their churchy tranquility.
It would be easier to just be a nice guy and write warm fuzzy things about how God blesses His children – – things that could help us ignore looming troubles.
BUT I – –
But I feel something else too. It’s the compelling drive to speak uncomfortable truth, when I read “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26, niv
Maybe you think that means being ashamed to bow your head and pray in a restaurant or to talk with someone about their need for Jesus. That might be true but it’s much more.
It means being ashamed to obey His radical words and follow His radical lifestyle. Consider the context of Luke 9:23-26.
It means being ashamed to live according to the purposes and culture of the Kingdom of God. Being different. Separate. Focused on the things of God. Refusing to seek the good life in the “world” or to be content with anything less than intimacy with Jesus.
THE FINAL WORD
As much as I like to be liked, I decided decades ago to live for the final “Well done, good and faithful servant – – enter thou into the joy of thy lord” of Mt. 25:23 instead of for the accolades of men in this lifetime. And if that means reminding us of Luke 9:23-26 (etc.) at times, so be it. They are Jesus’ words and they are foundational to authentic Christian faith.
I also know that the narrow gate of Mt. 7:13-14 is the only way into the Eternal and Abundant Life that we crave! That’s serious too, and we are so easily sidetracked by Satan’s options.
Forgive me if you must, but this is a serious Day and there’s only one Way and His Name is Jesus! We claim to be His disciples who are continuing the work He began and that’s serious business.
Ken Stoltzfus
Kidron, OH USA
April 10, 2021
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