(Previous article)

Seven months ago, we began a journey to understand what it means to love what God loves and hate what He hates. That journey has brought us to the discovery that God’s soul has no pleasure in those who pursue life according to their own agenda. While I doubt we have arrived at our final destination, the place we now find ourselves is surprising. Not so much in the description of those with whom God is displeased, but with the realization that it can so readily include believers.

This is unsettling. Our journey was partially prompted by David’s commitment to align himself with God, against those who hate God. This seemed like choosing up sides – “us vs. them.” Just a simple matter of figuring out which of “them,” or of “their deeds” we should hate. But now we discover that we are at risk of becoming objects of God’s displeasure as well.

In this discovery is another refinement in our thinking that should be noted. We began with a focus on “hate,” which implies total rejection. But our journey has brought us to the realization that it is not enough to avoid being hated by God. Being the object of His displeasure, even as His child, is a fearful place to be.

So we are still unsettled, with questions that need answers. The last article has come up in conversations several times this week, and several versions of the same concern have been raised:

• “How do we move this beyond the cliche of ‘pursuing life according to God’s agenda, rather than mine’ ?”
• “I am still afraid that I might be that third guy from the parable of the minas.”
• “In pursuing the pleasure of God’s soul, don’t we end up back at either salvation by works or Lordship Salvation?”

Although each of these questions highlights a distinct nuance, behind each of them is the question of how we live each day in light of this truth. “Maybe I am still doing it wrong. What do I need to change to experience the praise, glory and honor available?”

Because this issue is so weighty and gets to the heart of what we started out to explore – how we align ourselves with God – we will try to move beyond cliches, and explore what it means to live life according to God’s agenda and not according to our own.

Perhaps it is best to begin by clarifying the core issue in the pursuit of God’s pleasure. It is not performance. The problem in Hebrews 10 was not their imperfections. The danger was that they would “go on sinning willfully.” This involves, not simply a single willful decision to ignore God’s agenda, but persistent willful decisions to pursue life independently of God’s agenda. The problem is not fundamentally our actions, it is the orientation of our heart.

To see this more clearly, let’s return to The Story. Remember the key developments:

• We were created to represent God and rule according to His agenda.
• Rather than represent Him and His agenda, we decided to pursue life according to our own agenda.
• As a result of this decision, we died. In addition to physical death, this also involved separation from God and loss of everything that made our existence meaningful.
• God provided hope through The Christ, Who would come and restore all that was lost.
• When Jesus showed up, He presented Himself as the Christ.
• By believing that He is the Christ, we are reconciled with God.
• Having believed that He is the Christ, He calls us to follow Him as His disciples. This discipleship is a process in which we walk with Christ in order to become like Him. As we look like Him, we are restored in our capacity as those who represent God – who look like Him.

So, let’s stop right here in The Story and recognize that our performance is not the solution to our problem. It is God’s process of discipleship that restores us.

Well, if it’s God’s process, does that mean that nothing is required of us?

No.

As we mentioned a couple of weeks back, in calling individuals to follow Him, Jesus laid out the marks of a disciple –

• Supreme Love for Jesus – Matthew 10:37-39; Luke 14:26
• Regularity in His Word – John 8:31-33
• Renunciation of My Agenda – “deny yourself” – Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
• Submission & Sacrifice – “take up your cross” – Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
• Pursue His Agenda –  “follow me” – Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
• Open-Handed Stewardship – Luke 14:33
• Love for One Another – John 13:34-35

These are often referred to as the “characteristics” of a disciple, and while that term is accurate – they do characterize a disciple – I find it helpful to think of them in more specific terms, as the “commitments” of a disciple. “Characteristics” can include traits that require time to develop – traits like maturity, self-control, wisdom, and knowledge. By contrast, “commitments” are traits that can be fully expressed by everyone, even a neophyte. In fact, these “commitments” are necessary for the other characteristics, developed over time, to appear.

Let’s consider this in a totally different context for a moment.

The high school my kids graduated from is known for its football program. In the 16 years we have lived here, they have won 5 State Championships, and many young boys grow up dreaming of being a Katy Tiger. Garret, my son, was one of those.

As you might expect, the road to a High School State Championship in Texas is not an easy one. High school football is close to religion here, and there are lots of towns, with lots of young men, fighting for that title. Any team that is a regular contender in that battle will work harder and dig deeper than most.

Any young man who wants to be part of that tradition is going to have to posses certain traits. Not necessarily traits like strength, football knowledge, position skills, or even heart. The process will develop all of those things. No, the traits required are commitments – commitment to hard work, commitment to the team, commitment to the system, and commitment to the vision of a State Championship in their Senior Year. In these commitments, the priorities are established that will carry him through the process of becoming a Katy Tiger. Without them, the sacrifices will seem too great, and the obstacles too hard, and he will decide there are better ways to spend his time.

When Garret entered the program his Freshman year, those traits – those commitments – were full blown. There was no reservation, no need to develop his commitment. In fact, it could not have been present in any greater concentration than it was that first year. True, it had not yet been tested, and he did not know what those commitments would require of him. He did not realize that for the next three-and-a-half years, he would feel like he was either going to football, at football, or coming from football. But there were no reservations in his heart about being a Katy Tiger. And it was this commitment that carried him through the times when it seemed too hard, or when the sacrifice seemed overwhelming. As a result of that commitment the other traits developed – strength, discipline, heart and skills. As a result of that commitment, he became part of the tradition that won a State Championship in his Junior year. As a result of that commitment, he came to know, at the deepest level, what it means to be a Katy Tiger.

In the same way, Jesus’ call to discipleship is a call to commitment.

• Commitment to Him above all else and without competition.
• Commitment to His word.
• Commitment to His agenda, regardless of the costs, and without competition from our own agendas.
• Commitment to His people.

In these commitments, the priorities are set which will carry us through the process of discipleship. We don’t know yet, what will be required of us, but we can be confident that, as a result of these commitments, the other traits – attributes that reflect God’s character – will be developed. As a result of these commitments, we will come to know, at the deepest level, what it means to be like Christ. Because of these commitments, we can move beyond motivation by fear, and anticipate hearing “well done, good and faithful servant.”

We will dig into the specifics of these commitments beginning next week, but for now, it is enough to pause and consider our commitment to Jesus as the Christ.

What hinders the kind of commitment to Christ that is described here?