Message topic: What does Jesus think or expect of people who calls Him Lord?
Scripture text: Matthew 11: 25-30
I trust that when you leave here today, you will have something in your mind that you can reflect on as we see and hear daily the actions of so many who’s actions does not match their words.
I believe it is better to refer to believers as Christ-followers’ than it is to refer to them as Christians: To be a Christian is to be labeled as a believer, but this word is so generic today almost anyone can claim to be a Christian, but to be a Christ-follower, it is much different because we do more than claim to be a Christian, we claim to follow Christ wherever He leads, and He may lead us into some very difficult places and circumstances.
Jesus never came up to anyone and said, let me into your heart’ or accept Me’ but rather He wants us to show our love for Him as He says in (Matt. 4:19) follow me, then we follow Him:
There are no scripture references where Jesus or any of the other apostles ever said, accept Jesus, let Him into your heart, or pray this (sinners) prayer. No one is ever saved by walking down the aisle coming forward, or filling out a decision card’ or repeating a prayer that someone else leads them in, but rather when a person hears the voice of God saying come to me and be saved, then God grants them repentance as they put their trust in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.
We don’t put our trust in a decision card: salvation is fully a work of God through whom we receive 100% of His glory: that’s how a person is born again or born from above (John 3: 3-7). it’s an act of God that is part of His will for mankind.
In Matthew 11: 28, when Jesus says, come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, it’s an open call to everyone who is struggling, weighed down by life’s burdens.
The labor mentioned here signifies more than physical toil; it includes the heavy burden of sin, guilt, anxiety, and the relentless pursue of self-righteousness.
In the context of Jesus ministry, His listeners were under the yoke of stringent religious laws, societal expectations, and Roman oppression. The religious leaders of the day impose rules and regulations that were impossible to keep.
Trusting in the Lord is the only path to life, nowhere is this seen more fully than in the life and work of Christ. In his life, He trusted the father totally, even to his death; through his work on the cross, his resurrection, and his ascension, he offers us new life, pouring his Spirit into our hearts.
In a culture of misplaced trusts, broken promises, and damaged lives, only Jesus is unshakable, unchangeable, unbreakable and worthy of all our trust. Only he trusted the Father perfectly with all his heart, making straight the path for our salvation so we would trust him. through him, God offers healing, wisdom, and love to the world, if we acknowledge him in all our ways.
Jesus is also trying to prevent fence sitters, in Luke 14:27. He says, you cannot be my disciple if you won’t pick up your cross and follow me. If anything is going to get people off the fence, it’s this.
He was calling people to serve him or abandon him, be a sheep or a goat, be a wheat or a tare, be hot or cold, but he wasn’t letting anyone remain lukewarm. Jesus is asking us to make a choice: follow him or forsake him. but don’t sit on the fence.
Keep your eyes simply on him: let his death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon your mind: when you wake in the morning look to Him; when you lie down at night look to Him.
Do not let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you.
Jesus told His disciples that whoever does not take his cross and follow Him is not worthy of Him. we’re not worthy to claim His name if we’re not willing to follow Him, wherever that leads, taking up our cross means denying ourselves daily in order to keep in step with Him.
Jesus cross wasn’t about the cross itself, it was about what it symbolized. The cross under Roman rule was a shameful device of ridicule, humiliation and torturous death. Jesus came to die such a horrible death. He laid down His life for us. The cross is about submission to the Father’s will.
Followers are called to die to self, to crucify their flesh, and yield over all they love for His sake: dying to self will always be heard if we love ourselves too much and Him too little.
Jesus never said countless losses will happen to us if we follow Him, but the question might be asked, a question that reveals our heart, Am I willing to face loss for Him? even terrible gut-wrenching losses?
In the comfortable West, we sometimes find it difficult to step outside our comfort zone and the insulated bubble of many of our churches; but Christ followers in the persecuted churches around the world face challenging horrific losses for their faith every day, but they choose to take up their cross to the glory of Christ, siding with the overcomers in all their troubles.
Following Jesus is relatively easy when life is carefree and painless but our commitment is shown during our deepest trials when discipleship is demanding and sacrificial. our loyalty to Him is revealed when we are mocked, threatened and persecuted.
Taking up our cross involves the choice to surrender our possessions, dreams, fondest hopes, most precious earthly loves and all else for the advancements of God’s purposes and glory. It involves following in the steps of our Savior.
Jesus expects that we will follow Him willingly, loyally, obediently and fully: and He has the right to expect this. Christ followers do not belong to themselves, but live to honor the Holy One who bids us, follow Me.
We have the assurance that when we come to Jesus He will never leaves or forsake us: in Ezekiel 36: 26-27: a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will put within you: and I will take away the stoney heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh: I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statue, and you shall keep my judgements, and do them.
In the new heart of flesh which Christ put within us, we will find His love, His kindness, His willingness to forgive, His humility, His compassion, His gentleness, His self-control, His patience, His honesty and most of all His obedience.
When the attributes of Christ Jesus is buried in our hearts, we will become one: His spirit is in us, as His Spirit is in the Father and we become one.
Let us keep this promise from Jesus our Savior always in our hearts: come unto me all you that have labored and are weary and I will give you rest.
We started this sharing with the question: what does Jesus requires of people who calls Him Lord? So, let’s end with the best answer that we can think of: in (Luke 6:46) Jesus asked the people this question, why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? He is saying, the thing which I require of you is perfect obedience, which includes love the Lord with all your heart, your soul and your mind.