Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
Singapore September 12, 1994
Good Morning!
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and
found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried."
A. K. Chesterton
The thought that Christ wants all of me on His terms based
solely on the strength of His word relegates many of us to observer
status in what could have been a living drama beyond
imagination. We simply find His challenge too "difficult"
and consequently "left untried."
AFTER ALL, HOW CAN JESUS BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY WHEN HE SAYS,
"No one of you can be my disciple who does not
give up all his own possessions."
"If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let
him have your coat also."
"If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give
up all right to himself."+
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, martyred for his faith during Nazi Germany
stated, "When Jesus Christ calls us, He bids us come
and die."
Many of us would rather live on the fringes of authentic
Christianity than "die" to our stubborn will
and "risk" everything through total surrender
to Christ.
When Jesus challenged a mob of wannabe "disciples" with,
"Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink
His blood, you have no life in you...many...turned back and
no longer followed Him." (Luke 6:53,66 - NIV; K.J.)
In that moment, His call to total commitment...to the "Christian
ideal" was "found difficult and left untried."
The question Jesus then posed to the remaining disciples echoes
down through the centuries to us today, "Will you too
go away?" (John 6:67)
Only you, in the depths of your soul know the answer to that
question.
Have a great week!
Dwight Hill
+ Luke 14:33; Matthew 5:40; Luke 9:23 (Phillips)
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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