The Church as a Restoration Centre (Part 2)

Micah 6: 6-8            Luke 14: 25-35

1.LOSS expectations

2. COST considerations

3. CLARIFICATION of possibilities

4. LIFESTYLE adjustments

In Luke 14: 1-24 we have seen already that we look outside of ourselves to those around us, the lost, the needy, the broken, as transistors of Jesus

In today's passage in Luke 14: 25-35 we face those searching words of Jesus on the personal cost of restoring Christ's community. There are losses, pains and stumbling blocks as we inevitably find ourselves on a collision course with the world, its way of thinking and its value system

It is good to enter into the new year with no false expectations of a demand free year. this is the message Jesus gives to His disciples as they entered the era leading up to His death.

However hard this cost is that Jesus talks about we can know that it nevertheless is coming to Jesus Christ himself. Following along with Him and rejoicing in His company we find the delight of His heart in reaching the lost. This is the driving force for us.

We also learn from verses 31-33 that we are to be realistic about our resources. We are run down and exposed and need to seek peace on every side, know our limits, our strengths and weaknesses and beware of overload. We cannot do Christ's expected task without following Him. That is our challenge. With Him thoigh we can prevail.

May 2018 see us take up His challenges and face what these involve, leaving aside all else to determine where He is.