Continued Ideas About Learning God's Identity

Today's Reading

1 Kings 19:16, 19-21
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11
Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Luke 9:51-62


Commentary


Last Sunday, my point is all about knowing who God is deeply. The Gospel reading then gives us an instance that every Christian will come to a point when they will be asked in a flash who Jesus is and in need of an immediate response. A Christian must have an answer ready made to show his firm stance. In addition, a Christian must know himself also so he can be able to follow Christ. Without a deep knowledge of who I am and who Christ is, I cannot be an efficient disciple.

Today a continuation of that idea prevails. Jesus again, is giving his conditions for discipleship. Last Sunday he warned that whoever wants to follow him must deny himself, take up his cross and follow him. Today a similar thought was given. A person who wants to attend Christian ministry must not turn a neck backwards but must strain forward.

On a serious note, the gospel also gives us another reason why we need to study God. Several people are blinded by mistakes and fabricated doctrines about God. They say He is loving and loving to the point of no hatred. There is, according to them, no way God can answer no for a prayer. I say to them now, and listen, God can answer us NO. In the Gospel, no figure in there was answered by Jesus with affirmation. First the apostles, they asked if the Lord wants them to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them but Jesus rebuked them. A person asked him if he could be a Jesus follower but our Lord refused and sent him away saying "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head." Strike two!





Thirdly, Jesus asked another man to follow him but asked if he could bury his father first. Jesus did not allow him and instead said to him Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

Fourthly, another man asked permission to see his family and bid farewell to them first but again our Lord never gave an allowance but a reprimand saying "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."


We really need to know God. Our God is not somebody who can be manipulated by requests. He has his own reasons why a person is called and another not.


Application

There are only three kinds of person during Jesus' time in Israel, the critics, the fans, and the disciples. The critics wants to see the faults Christianity. The fans only wants to see and hear Jesus but after that leaves and not interested to follow him. The last one is the disciples who at the end became builders of Christian communities. Which are you?