The Cost of Following Christ
One of the most famous fables told by Edwin Friedman is “The Bridge.” It’s about a man who tried to find the path to success and the purpose of his life. After many years of aimless meandering in life, he finally found the meaning of life and the path to success.
Realizing life is short, he devoted his entire focus, time, and energy on the journey to fulfill his life purpose. One day as he was crossing a bridge, he saw a man of equal stature walking toward him from the other side of the bridge. As he came near, he noticed that he had a rope around his waist. When they met at the middle of the bridge the man gave him one end of the rope and asked him to hold it.
He took the rope without knowing what it means, but suddenly the man with the rope jumped down the bridge. He quickly pulled the rope to bring him back, but the weight of the other man was about the same as him, so he was not able to pull him up. He asked the man, “Why did you jump down? I can’t pull you up. You have to climb up and I will hold the rope up here.”
The guy replied, “If I fall, it’s your fault. You better secure the rope by tying the rope around your waist so that I won’t fall.” He did as the other guy said, and then shouted, “I have secured the rope around my waist. You can climb up now.” The other man said, “If I fall and die, it will be your fault.”
“But you must climb up. I can’t hang in here for long. I am on a journey. I have my life goal to fulfill. I must continue before it is too late.” He pleaded him to climb up. But the other man replied, “Make sure your end of the rope is secure. If I die, it’s your fault.” The guy just stayed dangling there without doing anything.
“If you don’t climb up, I have no choice but release the rope,” the man warned. The other man repeated, “If I die, it’s your fault.” “I don’t want you to die. I am here to help you until you climb your way up. But, hurry up, if you don’t climb up, I have to let you go,” he shouted to him with a serious tone.
The other man refused to help himself and shouted back, “If I die, it’s your fault.” It went on for hours. The man couldn’t find any other help around. He knew if he didn’t continue on his journey, he would be late. So, he shouted for the last time, “I will give you three minutes. If you don’t start climbing up, I’ll have to let you go.”
Three minutes went by, but the other guy didn’t take any action. The man untied the rope from his waist and released it. Then, he continued his journey without looking back.
Do you think this man is cruel to let go of the rope? Do you think it’s against the principle of “loving your neighbor as yourself”? How do you understand this story?
The fact is, we all encounter people in life just like the man with the rope. The rope represents an emotional rope. They will give you the rope and get you emotionally tangled with them. They keep you stuck on your journey and blame you if you try to stop engaging them in the emotional entanglement. How many people in your life have given you a rope like this to hold?
There are people like this that don’t have anything better to do but to get you stuck with them. They are people without a purpose. You think you are being kind to help them out and help them recover, but they know exactly how to abuse your kindness to keep you stuck. If you have the consciousness to see there is a choice—to let go of the rope, or to get stuck and never get the chance to fulfill your divine calling.
Jesus had a similar situation in the scripture lesson in Luke 9:51-62, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.” (vv. 51-53).
Notice that it repeatedly mentions “his face” and that “his face was set toward Jerusalem.” Jesus had a goal and a divine purpose to fulfill. “His face” is set toward that goal. His mind is focused on fulfilling his divine calling, and everything else become less important. The Samaritans gave him an emotional rope, implying that if you want to stay at our village, you must do what we tell you to do, not what God tells you to do. One way or another they are trying to get emotionally tangled with Jesus.
Jesus didn’t take the rope, but the disciples did. “When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.” (vv. 54-56).
At personal level, how many times have you react to those who gave you a rope and got you entangled? Jesus rebuke the disciples for doing that and just continue on his journey because he has a bigger fish to fry.
If you want to please God and cultivate a fruitful life, you have to drop the ropes the aimless people give you, or you will get stuck on the way.
People without divine calling are miserable and misery loves company. It’s one thing to be kind to them but it’s another thing to get yourself stuck.
The cost of following Christ is that you might end up displeasing people on your journey to fulfill God’s will. What it says here is that, if you are a people-pleaser, you ware not worthy of following Christ.
Reverend Calvin Wyatt /email: /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
One of the most famous fables told by Edwin Friedman is “The Bridge.” It’s about a man who tried to find the path to success and the purpose of his life. After many years of aimless meandering in life, he finally found the meaning of life and the path to success.
Realizing life is short, he devoted his entire focus, time, and energy on the journey to fulfill his life purpose. One day as he was crossing a bridge, he saw a man of equal stature walking toward him from the other side of the bridge. As he came near, he noticed that he had a rope around his waist. When they met at the middle of the bridge the man gave him one end of the rope and asked him to hold it.
He took the rope without knowing what it means, but suddenly the man with the rope jumped down the bridge. He quickly pulled the rope to bring him back, but the weight of the other man was about the same as him, so he was not able to pull him up. He asked the man, “Why did you jump down? I can’t pull you up. You have to climb up and I will hold the rope up here.”
The guy replied, “If I fall, it’s your fault. You better secure the rope by tying the rope around your waist so that I won’t fall.” He did as the other guy said, and then shouted, “I have secured the rope around my waist. You can climb up now.” The other man said, “If I fall and die, it will be your fault.”
“But you must climb up. I can’t hang in here for long. I am on a journey. I have my life goal to fulfill. I must continue before it is too late.” He pleaded him to climb up. But the other man replied, “Make sure your end of the rope is secure. If I die, it’s your fault.” The guy just stayed dangling there without doing anything.
“If you don’t climb up, I have no choice but release the rope,” the man warned. The other man repeated, “If I die, it’s your fault.” “I don’t want you to die. I am here to help you until you climb your way up. But, hurry up, if you don’t climb up, I have to let you go,” he shouted to him with a serious tone.
The other man refused to help himself and shouted back, “If I die, it’s your fault.” It went on for hours. The man couldn’t find any other help around. He knew if he didn’t continue on his journey, he would be late. So, he shouted for the last time, “I will give you three minutes. If you don’t start climbing up, I’ll have to let you go.”
Three minutes went by, but the other guy didn’t take any action. The man untied the rope from his waist and released it. Then, he continued his journey without looking back.
Do you think this man is cruel to let go of the rope? Do you think it’s against the principle of “loving your neighbor as yourself”? How do you understand this story?
The fact is, we all encounter people in life just like the man with the rope. The rope represents an emotional rope. They will give you the rope and get you emotionally tangled with them. They keep you stuck on your journey and blame you if you try to stop engaging them in the emotional entanglement. How many people in your life have given you a rope like this to hold?
There are people like this that don’t have anything better to do but to get you stuck with them. They are people without a purpose. You think you are being kind to help them out and help them recover, but they know exactly how to abuse your kindness to keep you stuck. If you have the consciousness to see there is a choice—to let go of the rope, or to get stuck and never get the chance to fulfill your divine calling.
Jesus had a similar situation in the scripture lesson in Luke 9:51-62, “When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53 but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.” (vv. 51-53).
Notice that it repeatedly mentions “his face” and that “his face was set toward Jerusalem.” Jesus had a goal and a divine purpose to fulfill. “His face” is set toward that goal. His mind is focused on fulfilling his divine calling, and everything else become less important. The Samaritans gave him an emotional rope, implying that if you want to stay at our village, you must do what we tell you to do, not what God tells you to do. One way or another they are trying to get emotionally tangled with Jesus.
Jesus didn’t take the rope, but the disciples did. “When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ 55 But he turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they went on to another village.” (vv. 54-56).
At personal level, how many times have you react to those who gave you a rope and got you entangled? Jesus rebuke the disciples for doing that and just continue on his journey because he has a bigger fish to fry.
If you want to please God and cultivate a fruitful life, you have to drop the ropes the aimless people give you, or you will get stuck on the way.
People without divine calling are miserable and misery loves company. It’s one thing to be kind to them but it’s another thing to get yourself stuck.
The cost of following Christ is that you might end up displeasing people on your journey to fulfill God’s will. What it says here is that, if you are a people-pleaser, you ware not worthy of following Christ.
- Samuel Stone
Reverend Calvin Wyatt /email: /calvincosmo30@gmail.com /calvincosmo@facebook.com.
EMP0WERMENT
The Spirit as Power for Ministry to Others
Throughout Scripture, the Spirit empowers God’s people for various tasks—especially speaking for God.
In the Old Testament, God empowered some of His people with artistic skills (Exodus 28:3; 31:3), special strength (Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14), and leadership (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 1 Sam 11:6–7; 16:13–14).
He also empowered people to prophesy—to know what He was saying and communicate it (Numbers 11:17, 25–29; 1 Sam 10:6, 10; 2 Chronicles 15:1; 20:14; 24:20; Nehemiah 9:30; Isa 61:1; Ezekiel 11:5; Joel 2:28).
Often, God’s Spirit could spill over from one servant to others (Numbers 11:17, 25; Deuteronomy 34:9; 1 Samuel 19:20, 23; 2 Kings 2:9, 15).
Such empowerment is no guarantee of moral virtue by itself (1 Sam 19:20, 23; Matt 7:22–23). Nevertheless, disobedience could alienate a person from the true Spirit of God (compare Judges 16:20; Jude 19). In the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, the Spirit often comes after times of prayer (Luke 3:21–22; 11:13; Acts 1:14 with 2:1–4; 4:31; 8:15–17).
Prophetic speech was a prominent form of empowerment. Developing an emphasis already found in the Old Testament, many in New Testament times emphasized the Spirit’s association with prophecy or the kinds of activities associated with prophets (e.g., miracles). Many also associated the Spirit with other kinds of inspiration, such as wisdom or knowledge.
Early Christians regularly associated the Spirit with empowerment, which often involved speaking for God. For example, throughout the New Testament the Spirit empowers witness for Christ (Matthew 10:20; John 15:26–27; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5).
The Spirit also enables believers to hear from God (John 14:26; 16:13–15; Rom 8:14–16), often in the course of their witness for Christ (Acts 8:29; 10:19).
The degree to which prophetic dimensions dominated the understanding in early Judaism and in the New Testament—especially Luke–Acts—is disputed by some scholars.
The Book of Acts emphasizes the Spirit’s role in the Church’s cross-cultural witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). Although the initial witnesses are the 11 apostles (Acts 1:2), the promise of the Spirit is ultimately for all believers (Acts 2:38–39) who share in the mission of bringing the gospel to all people.
Throughout Acts, the Spirit pushes God’s people across cultural barriers (Acts 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 15:28):
• The Spirit empowers them to hear from and speak for God the way prophets did (Acts 2:17–18). Some people in Acts prophesied more than others (Acts 11:27–28; 21:9–11), but all were called to speak God’s message.
• On three occasions in Acts, believers empowered by the Spirit began praising God in tongues. If God empowered some of His servants to worship Him in other people’s languages, He could also empower His servants to cross cultural barriers with the good news about Christ.
• The Spirit also falls on new groups of believers, showing that they, too, are empowered by God to share in the mission (Acts 8:14–17; 10:44–47; 19:6).
It is debated whether some depictions of empowerment in Acts occur only at conversion, or also after conversion. John the Baptist contrasted Jesus’ judgment with His promised baptism in the Spirit; this suggests that Christ baptizes in the Spirit all the people He saves from judgment. However, John spoke of the entire sphere of the Spirit’s work, whereas some New Testament writers focused on particular aspects of the Spirit’s work. It is thus debated whether some New Testament writers apply the phrase to experiences that sometimes follow the moment of conversion.
Writers like Paul and John emphasize the coming of the Spirit at conversion, and illustrate a continuing life empowered by the Spirit. The Book of Acts most fully illustrates the experiences of the early Christians. Many argue that passages such as Acts 9:17 and especially Acts 8:14–17 portray believers experiencing the Spirit in special ways after conversion. Opinions and interpretations of these passages vary.
The ideal in early Christianity was for all Christians to be empowered to serve one another with distinct empowerments. Although Paul is not the only writer to mention “gifts” (see 1 Pet 4:10–11), he mentions them the most frequently (see Rom 12:4–8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Cor 12:4–11). The idea of gifts aligns with Paul’s emphasis on being saved from sin’s penalty and power through faith; and then fruit of the Spirit (in everything that believers do as they live their new life in Christ), depending on Christ and the Spirit. Ultimately, Paul argues that believers can expect God to empower them in both character and ministry.
The context of each of Paul’s major “gifts” passages emphasizes that the body of Christ has many members, and all must function together. This means that no one should look down on one’s own gifts or on those of others; instead, each must contribute in whatever ways God has gifted them for the common good. It may be that, directed by love, believers also can seek special gifts for building up Christ’s body (1 Cor 12:31; 14:1).
Some gifts that Paul lists in 1 Cor 12, such as teaching or administration (12:28), might seem more natural and mundane than some other gifts that he lists, such as prophecy or healing.
Such an impression, however, would miss Paul’s point. He wants believers to depend on God’s power for any ministry that God gives them. In 1 Cor 14, Paul extensively contrasts the gifts of prophecy and tongues. In so doing, he is not demeaning tongues, as if some of God’s “gifts” are bad; Paul himself prays in tongues and warns against prohibiting it (1 Cor 14:18, 39). But Paul emphasizes that believers should seek to help one another when they come together as the church, and thus should cultivate especially gifts that serve this purpose.
Another passage, Ephesians 4:11–13 speaks of God giving as gifts to Christ’s body apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers—individuals whose ministry is to equip the rest of Christ’s body for their service for Christ (Ephesians 4:11–12). God empowers all believers for ministry, not just those with special titles.
The Spirit as a Foretaste of the Future
The New Testament portrays the present experience of the promised Spirit as a foretaste of the future. The prophets spoke of the Spirit being poured out on God’s people at the time of their restoration (e.g., Isa 44:3; 59:21; 61:1; Ezekiel 36:27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28–29). By Jesus’ time, some Jews believed that the Spirit was no longer active as it had been before.
When God began pouring out His Spirit, however, Jesus’ followers recognized that the prophetic promise was being fulfilled; they were in the “last days” (Acts 2:17). This coming of the Spirit identified Jesus’ followers as the righteous remnant of God’s people—Jesus, their Lord, was the authentic, promised king. Gentiles also began to receive the Spirit, confirming that all who followed Israel’s true king would share the promised end-time blessings of God’s people (Gal 3:14; compare Acts 11:18).
Because the fullness of God’s promises still lay in the future, the promised coming of the Spirit served as a foretaste of the future world (see 1 Cor 2:9–10). Thus, Paul spoke of the Spirit as the “down payment” of Christians’ promised inheritance in the world to come (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13–14). Likewise, believers awaiting their future bodily resurrection had the “first fruits” of the Spirit (Rom 8:23).
Believers who lived in the Spirit’s power should therefore show the world around them a foretaste of the coming world (compare Rom 12:2; Hebrews 6:4–5).
Conclusion
Throughout the Bible, God’s Spirit empowers God’s people to live righteously and minister to others. Scripture often portrays this empowerment in dramatic ways, such as prophecy or miracles. Other times, the Spirit simply empowers God’s people to live their daily lives in a new way, with a new identity that honors God.[1]
Throughout Scripture, the Spirit empowers God’s people for various tasks—especially speaking for God.
In the Old Testament, God empowered some of His people with artistic skills (Exodus 28:3; 31:3), special strength (Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14), and leadership (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Judges 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 1 Sam 11:6–7; 16:13–14).
He also empowered people to prophesy—to know what He was saying and communicate it (Numbers 11:17, 25–29; 1 Sam 10:6, 10; 2 Chronicles 15:1; 20:14; 24:20; Nehemiah 9:30; Isa 61:1; Ezekiel 11:5; Joel 2:28).
Often, God’s Spirit could spill over from one servant to others (Numbers 11:17, 25; Deuteronomy 34:9; 1 Samuel 19:20, 23; 2 Kings 2:9, 15).
Such empowerment is no guarantee of moral virtue by itself (1 Sam 19:20, 23; Matt 7:22–23). Nevertheless, disobedience could alienate a person from the true Spirit of God (compare Judges 16:20; Jude 19). In the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, the Spirit often comes after times of prayer (Luke 3:21–22; 11:13; Acts 1:14 with 2:1–4; 4:31; 8:15–17).
Prophetic speech was a prominent form of empowerment. Developing an emphasis already found in the Old Testament, many in New Testament times emphasized the Spirit’s association with prophecy or the kinds of activities associated with prophets (e.g., miracles). Many also associated the Spirit with other kinds of inspiration, such as wisdom or knowledge.
Early Christians regularly associated the Spirit with empowerment, which often involved speaking for God. For example, throughout the New Testament the Spirit empowers witness for Christ (Matthew 10:20; John 15:26–27; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5).
The Spirit also enables believers to hear from God (John 14:26; 16:13–15; Rom 8:14–16), often in the course of their witness for Christ (Acts 8:29; 10:19).
The degree to which prophetic dimensions dominated the understanding in early Judaism and in the New Testament—especially Luke–Acts—is disputed by some scholars.
The Book of Acts emphasizes the Spirit’s role in the Church’s cross-cultural witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). Although the initial witnesses are the 11 apostles (Acts 1:2), the promise of the Spirit is ultimately for all believers (Acts 2:38–39) who share in the mission of bringing the gospel to all people.
Throughout Acts, the Spirit pushes God’s people across cultural barriers (Acts 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 15:28):
• The Spirit empowers them to hear from and speak for God the way prophets did (Acts 2:17–18). Some people in Acts prophesied more than others (Acts 11:27–28; 21:9–11), but all were called to speak God’s message.
• On three occasions in Acts, believers empowered by the Spirit began praising God in tongues. If God empowered some of His servants to worship Him in other people’s languages, He could also empower His servants to cross cultural barriers with the good news about Christ.
• The Spirit also falls on new groups of believers, showing that they, too, are empowered by God to share in the mission (Acts 8:14–17; 10:44–47; 19:6).
It is debated whether some depictions of empowerment in Acts occur only at conversion, or also after conversion. John the Baptist contrasted Jesus’ judgment with His promised baptism in the Spirit; this suggests that Christ baptizes in the Spirit all the people He saves from judgment. However, John spoke of the entire sphere of the Spirit’s work, whereas some New Testament writers focused on particular aspects of the Spirit’s work. It is thus debated whether some New Testament writers apply the phrase to experiences that sometimes follow the moment of conversion.
Writers like Paul and John emphasize the coming of the Spirit at conversion, and illustrate a continuing life empowered by the Spirit. The Book of Acts most fully illustrates the experiences of the early Christians. Many argue that passages such as Acts 9:17 and especially Acts 8:14–17 portray believers experiencing the Spirit in special ways after conversion. Opinions and interpretations of these passages vary.
The ideal in early Christianity was for all Christians to be empowered to serve one another with distinct empowerments. Although Paul is not the only writer to mention “gifts” (see 1 Pet 4:10–11), he mentions them the most frequently (see Rom 12:4–8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Cor 12:4–11). The idea of gifts aligns with Paul’s emphasis on being saved from sin’s penalty and power through faith; and then fruit of the Spirit (in everything that believers do as they live their new life in Christ), depending on Christ and the Spirit. Ultimately, Paul argues that believers can expect God to empower them in both character and ministry.
The context of each of Paul’s major “gifts” passages emphasizes that the body of Christ has many members, and all must function together. This means that no one should look down on one’s own gifts or on those of others; instead, each must contribute in whatever ways God has gifted them for the common good. It may be that, directed by love, believers also can seek special gifts for building up Christ’s body (1 Cor 12:31; 14:1).
Some gifts that Paul lists in 1 Cor 12, such as teaching or administration (12:28), might seem more natural and mundane than some other gifts that he lists, such as prophecy or healing.
Such an impression, however, would miss Paul’s point. He wants believers to depend on God’s power for any ministry that God gives them. In 1 Cor 14, Paul extensively contrasts the gifts of prophecy and tongues. In so doing, he is not demeaning tongues, as if some of God’s “gifts” are bad; Paul himself prays in tongues and warns against prohibiting it (1 Cor 14:18, 39). But Paul emphasizes that believers should seek to help one another when they come together as the church, and thus should cultivate especially gifts that serve this purpose.
Another passage, Ephesians 4:11–13 speaks of God giving as gifts to Christ’s body apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers—individuals whose ministry is to equip the rest of Christ’s body for their service for Christ (Ephesians 4:11–12). God empowers all believers for ministry, not just those with special titles.
The Spirit as a Foretaste of the Future
The New Testament portrays the present experience of the promised Spirit as a foretaste of the future. The prophets spoke of the Spirit being poured out on God’s people at the time of their restoration (e.g., Isa 44:3; 59:21; 61:1; Ezekiel 36:27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28–29). By Jesus’ time, some Jews believed that the Spirit was no longer active as it had been before.
When God began pouring out His Spirit, however, Jesus’ followers recognized that the prophetic promise was being fulfilled; they were in the “last days” (Acts 2:17). This coming of the Spirit identified Jesus’ followers as the righteous remnant of God’s people—Jesus, their Lord, was the authentic, promised king. Gentiles also began to receive the Spirit, confirming that all who followed Israel’s true king would share the promised end-time blessings of God’s people (Gal 3:14; compare Acts 11:18).
Because the fullness of God’s promises still lay in the future, the promised coming of the Spirit served as a foretaste of the future world (see 1 Cor 2:9–10). Thus, Paul spoke of the Spirit as the “down payment” of Christians’ promised inheritance in the world to come (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:13–14). Likewise, believers awaiting their future bodily resurrection had the “first fruits” of the Spirit (Rom 8:23).
Believers who lived in the Spirit’s power should therefore show the world around them a foretaste of the coming world (compare Rom 12:2; Hebrews 6:4–5).
Conclusion
Throughout the Bible, God’s Spirit empowers God’s people to live righteously and minister to others. Scripture often portrays this empowerment in dramatic ways, such as prophecy or miracles. Other times, the Spirit simply empowers God’s people to live their daily lives in a new way, with a new identity that honors God.[1]
A Clarion Call:
If you have not yet received the Lord Jesus into your life, or you once received Him but backslid, make yourself available of this opportunity and pray this prayer: There is no degree of sin the Lord cannot blot out. Do not postpone, for tomorrow may be too late.
Father I come before you as a sinner (Romans 3:23)
I sincerely repent of my sins (Acts 3:19)
I believe that Jesus died and was resurrected to grant me salvation
(John 3:16)
Today, as I receive Him into my heart by faith, grant me grace,
not to go back to my old sinful ways (Proverbs 28:13)
Thank you Lord for saving me.
