Transcription
We are the company of the Unworthy, doing the impossible for the glory of another, and that's Jesus Christ. And what Jesus Christ wants from us is no less than everything. That's what He's talking about here in verse 20 when He says that we accept the word, we welcome His word for ourselves.
Now, we're going to look at the specific calls of Jesus Christ: the calls to commitment, the calls to discipleship, the calls to consecration. Let me show you what I mean because in the Gospels, we can trace Christ's call to commitment. He states that we can be His disciples only when we are characterized, listen, by desiring these things. These are the evidences, these are the proof that we know Him. What are they? Well, the first one we saw.
And turn with me, you're in Mark, turn to the next book, Luke 14. Luke 14:26. Jesus said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, his own life also, he can't be my disciple." Now, this has to do with comparison of loves. And He said the love for them is so small compared to the overwhelming love you have for me, that it would be so small that it would almost look like you hate them and love me. So it's a comparison of loves. And He says, "I want to be loved the most."
So, what's the element we learned? Jesus wants my heart to be open completely in love for Him. Now, what does that mean? Listen, it means I love Him most. Okay? Can you say, "I love Jesus Christ most"? Now, maybe you can say, "You know, this week I, in some ways, I, I failed." But is that the desire of your heart? He said, "You can't be my disciple." Look back at verse 26. "If you come to me and you do not love, love Him most." He said, "You're not my disciple because I demand more than anyone else does. I demand all of you, not part of you." I love Him most. That's His first call. He says, "Will you love me most?"
What's the response from us? "I will love you most." And in any way that I don't, I will change. I will ask You to, to change my life, change my desires to be conformed to loving You most. That's the first call He made.
Jesus said many things about this. In fact, it says if you want to turn with me to Matthew 6:33. He said it so many different ways. Turn back in the Gospel to Matthew 6:33. Here's how He says loving Him most. He says, "But seek first the kingdom of God, seek it first, and His righteousness, and everything else will come to you." He says, "If you love me most, you will seek me first."
Next book from Matthew, go to Mark, where we began. Chapter 8. I love this. This is the, the great call in the Gospel by Mark. Next book, Mark chapter 8, and look at verse 34. Jesus said, "You are to love me most." And this is what I want. Mark 8:34. And when He called His people to Himself with His disciples, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me." Verse 35. "If you desire to save your life, you'll lose it. But if you lose your life for my sake, He said, you love me the most. You love me more than life itself."
So, if you are tracking these calls, number one: Jesus says, "Open your heart completely to love me." What response should that bring from us? "I will love you most." Is that where you are this morning? Morning. I hope.
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