Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
Singapore
December 27, 1995
Good Morning!
ARE YOU FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST FOR THE RIGHT REASONS?
IF YOUR MOTIVES IN PURSUING THE MASTER ARE FOR ANYTHING
LESS THAN A DESIRE FOR INTIMACY WITH HIM, YOU ARE SADLY ON
THE WRONG TRACK:
"Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink
His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh
and drinks my blood has eternal life." (John 6:53, 54)
It is a mystery as to exactly what Jesus meant
here. At the very least He conveyed the idea of total involvement
with Him at the most intimate level.
A little steep ? He meant it that way: "As
a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were no longer
walking with Him." (John 6:66)
The Gospels communicate at least four wrong reasons as to why
people followed Jesus:
#1 CURIOSITY over His MIRACLES -
"And a great multitude was following Him, because they
were seeing the signs which He was performing on those who
were sick." (John 6:2) (Also:Luke 9:9;23:8; John 2:23 -
25)
#2 The MATERIAL BENEFITS
"Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me...because you
ate of the loaves, and were filled." (John 6:26)
#3 The POLITICAL BENEFITS -
"Jesus therefore perceiving that they were intending to
come and take Him by force, to make Him king, withdrew..."
(John 6:15a) (Also: Luke 24:21)
#4 STATUS
"Grant that we may sit in your glory, one on Your
right, and one on Your left." (Mark 10:37) (Also Mark 9:31
- 37)
We need to search our hearts as to why we profess allegiance
to Him. If our motives are ulterior, we solicit His rejection:
"Jesus...was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men....for He Himself knew
what was in man." (John 2:24, 25)
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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