Hold on tight
This video is kind of an add on to my post from the other day. I found it to be so true of much of Christianity. What do you think? Just click on “balance beam” to check it out.
Immediately
They went immediately
Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. -Matthew 4:22
When Jesus tells you to do something, do you do it? I found this verse in Matthew to be a striking challenge to followers of Christ. I am amazed that Jesus told Andrew, Peter, James, and John to follow him and they did. They dropped everything they were doing and went to follow after a homeless guy who they hardly even knew. It occurred to me that I have been following Jesus for years yet most days it seems far-fetched to say that I would drop everything to do what he wants me to do. My faith is often so little.
So would you go? If you were to be given the clearest of callings from God, do you love Him enough to drop everything and go? You might immediately say yes but think about it. Are you willing to leave your livelihood? We often find so much comfort in our jobs that to leave them would be like having an arm amputated with no anesthetic. Are you willing to leave the comforts of your home? If you have to leave your job you will certainly have to leave your home; that place where you know you can go every day after a long hard day at work and find a bit of peace and comfort. Are you willing to leave your family? Not that you divorce your spouse and dump your kids, this is not what Jesus was teaching, but are you willing to leave your own parents behind just as the disciples did? You may not realize it but family is one of the greatest idols that many people hold tightly in their hearts. Is it yours?
The big question that I am asking myself here is do I love Jesus more than anything, more than my daily comforts and pleasures? Do I love him to the point that I would leave my job with my comfy paycheck, leave my home with my nice backyard, and take my family, leave our families behind, and go serve Jesus for the glory of his kingdom?
This is the love with which we are called to love our savior. Jesus, help us to be people who are so in love with you that we would do anything you ask us to. Give us courage and boldness that is only given by your Holy Spirit.
Thoughts on John Piper’s leave of absence
John Piper takes a sabbath!
One of the things that I most enjoy doing is reading the blog’s of my favorite pastor’s. This past week I ran across this one from John Piper. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2010/4555 It explains that he is going to be taking a full 8 month leave of absence from Bethlehem Baptist Church. This leave is a full sabbath rest. No sermon preparation, no writing books, no traveling, nothing. Just rest with the family. This announcement came as a shock to me and I am sure many others as well but I am very much blessed by it. Let me explain why.
The ministry of John Piper is a blessed one. Bethlehem Baptist church in Minneapolis is always growing and reproducing leaders and I know that they are a well fed flock of Christians and that the Kingdom of God has grown because of the fruit that has been produced out of Bethlehem. John Piper himself is an amazingly gifted preacher/teacher/prophet/leader of the universal church. When you listen to this man preach it captivates you. He uses his words in such a way so as to cause you to be enthralled with the Scriptures in a way that maybe you never have been before. John Piper is all about bringing glory to God, or at least from my stand point and I know the stand point of others. Piper’s ministry has been all about desiring God and seeing people live for Him so that He might be glorified. In all that I have ever listened to or read of John Piper I don’t think I have ever thought about John Piper. My thoughts are only captivated as to how glorious God is and how glorious I am not. This is precisely the reason I am so shocked at his upcoming Sabbath and at the same time immensely blessed.
This is what John Piper has to say about himself: “But on the other hand, I see several species of pride in my soul that, while they may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry, grieve me, and have taken a toll on my relationship with Noël and others who are dear to me. How do I apologize to you, not for a specific deed, but for ongoing character flaws, and their effects on everybody? I’ll say it now, and no doubt will say it again, I’m sorry. Since I don’t have just one deed to point to, I simply ask for a spirit of forgiveness; and I give you as much assurance as I can that I am not making peace, but war, with my own sins.”
The man is not a god
I was recently talking with Bryan Devore about John Piper. We were discussing the fact that it is sad how John Piper so often gets put on a pedestal as if he is some kind of god. The day after this discussion Piper’s announcement came out about the pride that is grieving his soul. Simply put, this sabbath shows us that John Piper is a sinful human just like the rest of us who needs to take time off to be with Jesus repenting of his sins and to be with his family to show that he loves them more than the ministry.
The example he has set
I say all of this to say that I greatly respect what John Piper is doing. It is a rare thing to see a man humble himself to the point of stepping out of ministry the way that John Piper is doing. This is an example that more men need to follow; especially men in full time ministry. Too many families have been destroyed or are being destroyed because of men who are committing spiritual adultery with the ministry.
Thanks to John Piper for setting us a biblical example. Thank you for showing us that full time ministry is not God, church is not God, but God is God. Thank you for showing us that priorities do matter and thank you for showing us how to get those straight. Thank you God for the ways you have worked through this man to display your magnificent glory.