Sometimes I read the Bible and I don’t understand what I read so I usually hope I come across a sermon where the preacher talks on the verse or chapter but that may a take a while because there are so many things in the Bible to preach about. So what I have been doing lately is asking the Holy Spirit to explain or make things clear for me and that is what inspired this series. Its my desire to share the insight I get from reading God’s word and it is my hope and prayer that it changes you and helps you in your walk with Him. While I’m not sure how the format will work moving forward, today I will be sharing three different places in the Bible with you so let us begin this journey.
Luke 14:33 KJV reads “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” I’m sure most people like me read this verse and think of material things or money or their property and while I believe that is accurate, I received another insight too. I believe the verse goes beyond forsaking material things, it is also talking about intangible things like our attitudes, characters and dispositions. To follow Jesus requires that we forsake things that do not represent Him or things that hinder us from fully walking with Him, it requires us to set aside things in us that may be uncomfortable and hard to give up. For instance, I can be quite shy and I often feel like I can’t interact with a stranger more than necessary. This is my natural disposition, to go out, get what I need and return as soon as possible with little to no human interaction but as a Christian I know that I am called to share the good news of Jesus to every person I meet. So while sometimes it feels terribly awkward to just strike up a conversation with a random stranger, I understand that I need to let go of my shyness and obey God and do His will because its like this, God saved me and I am complete because of Him, why can’t I tell somebody about Him so they can be complete too? So this is the understanding I got from that verse, truly if we don’t forsake all we can’t effectively follow Jesus and “all” includes things that are within us like choosing to forsake your anger when someone hurts you and just let go or forgiving someone when they purposely (or not) hurt you. I pray God gives you understanding and helps you to, one day at a time, forsake all because we cannot do it on our own.
Okay next is Luke 19:12–27. Here, Jesus tells them the parable of this rich man who is travelling to a far country so he gives a pound to each of his servants and tells them to “Occupy till I come.” The first servant turns his one pound into 10 more pounds, the second servant turns his into 5 more pounds and the rich man rewards them by giving them authority over 10 and 5 cities respectively. However, there’s one servant who does nothing with his pound at all, he kept it hidden in a napkin and gives it back to the rich man just like that. His excuse is that he was afraid of him(the rich man) because he was a stern man who reaped where he did not sow. The rich man is not pleased by this and tells Him it would have been better for him to have given the pound to a bank, at least then he would have gotten some interests. He instructs the pound to be collected and be given to the one who made ten pounds. Jesus then says “And [said Jesus,] I tell you that to everyone who gets and has will more be given, but from the man who does not get and does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Luke 19:26(AMP). The understanding I got from here is more of a question, what are you doing with your salvation or with your Christianity? Maybe its one of the things we will be asked on the last day. As Christians, we’re called to be like the first and second servant, which means to do something with our life in Christ. We’re meant to spread God’s love and His light so it can continue to be spread across the world. We cannot keep to ourselves and on the last day tell God that the world was too sinful or some other excuse to do His will. The pound being made into 10 pounds to me symbolises reaching out to the lost and just generally shining our light. You don’t have to be a pastor or missionary to do this, in your school or work place you can just be a light for people to see so they may have the desire to turn to God. Our reward for this awaits us not only in heaven but here on earth too. I believe we’re called to do something with this life given to us and not to just wait for God to come back, our lives are meant to influence the world around us and that is why Jesus referred to us as “light and salt of the world.” Once again I pray God gives us the strength to do His will.
Finally, the infamous John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” This verse always excites me because it is so small yet carries such a deep message, it reveals who Jesus is as a person and that is, a compassionate friend. The story that led to this verse is when Lazarus died and his sister Mary was upset and told Jesus that if He had been around, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. We understand that Jesus purposely delayed even when He heard Lazarus was dead because Jesus knew He was going to bring Lazarus back from the dead. So I began to wonder, why did Jesus cry? He knew what He was about to do just moments later, why did He cry? We know Mary was distraught and speaking to Jesus about her pain and He was so moved as He saw her and others cry, John 11:33(AMP) “When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who came with her [also] sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. [He chafed in spirit and sighed and was disturbed.]” The understanding I got from this story is the fact that Jesus always feels our pain and is right there for us at all times. When we have been hurt, when we are broken, when we are upset and feeling betrayed, He knows it all and is just somehow there for us, He is moved and understands it all. Look at what the Bible says in Hebrews 4:15(AMP) “For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.” Jesus is that High Priest who sympathizes and understands us and our pain. So when next you feel like you’re alone and nobody understands what you’re going through, remember this story.
