Lord, Give Us Men!- TUESDAY

The level of commitment needed to be a follower of Christ when He walked the hills of Israel required only showing up and hearing His words.  He had the best show in town.  That is why he had thousands of people following Him around.  Who wouldn't want to see His miracles, be fed and be entertained?  Those things are easy, low commitment, and easy to join.  Unfortunately, it is a lot like the point of view for many followers of Christ today.  When Jesus began to share His heart with those followers, He implored them to commit to being His disciple.  He stated clearly what was required.  When He did, we read about their mass exit from Him.  Why is this?  To be His disciple requires too much commitment for a marginal believer.  I can see it no other way.  If we have only a marginal commitment to Christ, we are not the kind of man that Jesus would call His disciple.  I'm reminded of the man we read about in the Bible that we know as the Rich Young Ruler.  Read this interaction with Jesus and this man.

There are two things obvious in this dialogue.  The first is the refusal of the man to give up his comforts to follow Jesus.  He would rather walk away from Jesus before making a sacrifice that would really challenge him.  The second thing is Jesus did not chase after the man and lower the standard required.  He let him walk away.  Why would Jesus do this?  I think it is because Jesus sets the standard and requires us to adjust our life to His standard.  But He will not adjust His standard to make it easy for a follower.

When we go after men to turn their hearts toward Christ to be His disciple, do we tell a man what Jesus requires or do we water it down to not offend for fear that we frighten a man away?  Should we take a lesson from Jesus on this and say clearly what is required?   Now if some of you think I am presenting a legalistic standard for being Jesus' disciple, I invite you to read those qualifications He required before you speak.   Ask why Jesus let the Rich Young Ruler walk away, and then make an example of him for us to read with how idols, riches and comforts stand in the way of being a true disciple of Christ?  Can we do anything less by watering down the level of commitment He requires, and see a man like He has in mind be raised up?

Pete spoke of men with stout hearts and fire in their eyes.  He spoke of men who are fearless.  He spoke of men who are willing to live and die for Jesus, and to live for His glory.  Here is one thing I know about a man like this.  The process used to form this kind of man does not come easy.  A man like this is literally forged in a crucible of trials and inconvenience and he will not emerge from this crucible as Jesus' disciple unless he enters it with a commitment to abandon his life to Christ, and then trust Him unwaveringly.  If this man does this, God is free to work in this man's life.  When the process is complete, this man, this Influencer emerges ready to impact his world.  This is why Pete wrote these words that I often pray:  Lord, Give Us Men Like This!