John 10:34-39: Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods, why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set Me apart and sent me into the world. Don’t believe Me unless I carry out my Father’s work. But if I do His work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe Me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.” Once again they tried to arrest him, but He got away and left them.
Whenever you and I became a believer in Christ, we made a decision to become one with Him. Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that Christ humbled Himself and became a man. After He was flesh, Jesus chose to suffer the death of the cross that He might redeem fallen man from sin. If He has redeemed us from sin and called us “out” of the world so that we can become one with Him in the Spirit, then we must obey His will.
Jesus, the Son of God, became flesh for one reason, that He might be our Kinsmen Redeemer (the book of Ruth). After the resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and received His gloried body (John 20). Now that He has risen from the dead, Jesus is no longer flesh. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth. Therefore, as believers and imitators of Christ, we’re not to live according to the desires or ways of this world. We must be willing to die (our cross) to the flesh and it desires.
I have found that it is far easier to make an initial commitment to Christ than it is to carry out that commitment. We make commitments to become one with Christ in “good faith,” but when God requires us to keep that commitment in our lives and not only in our hearts, He gives us the grace to embrace the change. As we become one with Christ in the spirit, we must be willing to love the things in this world less. In today’s verses, we can see that Jesus requires us to LOVE HIM MORE. If we should choose to love this world more than Him, then we’re not worthy of Him. Therefore, if the Lord has asked something of you that requires sacrifice from you, you must be willing to die to that relationship, status, or possession in order to become changed. After you have obeyed, you will receive more of His power and experience more of His love. God doesn’t change, but as we allow Him to change us, it allows us to receive and experience more of Him.
Has the Lord asked something of you that you find difficult to let go of or give up for Him? If so, you’re in good company. John the Baptist came to a point in his walk where he had decided to decrease so that Christ might increase. We must also decide, as John did, to decrease in our flesh in order for Christ to increase in our hearts and lives. Here’s a hint: God ALWAYS has blessing and increase in mind when He asks something of us. He rewards those who diligently seek Him, especially if it costs us everything we love. —submitted by Asa Dockery, US
GChoo on July 4, 2011 at 7:19 am
Asa, thank you for your contribution. God had spoken to me through you. Yes, God has just shown me that when we keep seeking Him all the time (good and bad times), He will be there for us and BLESS US ALWAYS. Yes, we must decrease in our flesh (submit and be humbled) in order to hear and see God working in our lives. It is not easy, as parents or in whatever work capacity we are in, but I continue to ask God to help me to seek His Word daily. God bless.
daisymarygoldr on July 4, 2011 at 11:39 am
The title of this post brings to mind Israel’s crossing over the Jordan. Crossing the Jordan pictures the believer’s claiming the promised inheritance in Jesus Christ. Absolutely agree it is far easier to make an initial commitment to Christ than it is to carry out that commitment.
The initial commitment to Christ is like Israel’s crossing the Red Sea which was made possible by the faithfulness of Moses. This is a type of our salvation from the kingdom of this world to be translated into the Kingdom of God. And our salvation was made possible by the faithful obedience of Jesus Christ.
Salvation and commitment to Christ is not the end of the story. The commitment has to be carried out and our salvation needs to be worked out. It is equivalent to Israel’s wilderness wandering that ends with the crossing of the Jordan River. This time it is the obedient feet of the people that helped them cross the river Jordan.
Jordan is the dividing line that separates carnality—of those who died in the wilderness and spirituality—of those who crossed over into the land of Canaan. Similarly, in my wilderness journey the carnal self must decrease and be fully put to death. So that Christ’s spiritual person can increase and fully live within me. This asks for my faithful obedience.
Unless I am willing to obey God’s Word and step out in faith into the flooded waters, I cannot cross over to enjoy the blessings of the Promised Land. Thanks Pastor Asa Dockery for the reminder: God always has blessing and increase in mind when He asks something of us.
Rae on July 4, 2011 at 1:36 pm
I think that passage is actually JOHN 10:34-39, not Matthew.
pastorasa on July 4, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Rae, you’re correct about the mix up on the scripture reference. Matthew 10: 34 – 39, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. NKJV
pastorasa on July 4, 2011 at 5:18 pm
Thank you Rae