What excuses are we giving for our lack of faithfulness to Jesus? Where are we settling for a lukewarm relationship with him similar to those who are around us?
The message here was to illustrate how faithful the Rechabites had been to their covenant and how unfaithful Judah had been to honoring their covenant. It was plain. The people of Judah were posers.
And this leads me to the practical side of this chapter. We are no longer under the law as Christians but it was Jesus Himself who fulfilled the law with His life, death, and resurrection. He raised the bar. So, how does this object lesson apply to us today?
Again, what are the things God has asked of you to live in a certain way that may indeed go against everything not only in your flesh but society? Let’s explore that question and answer it in Jesus’ words. Here are just a few expectations He has of His followers…
Commitment to emptying ourselves to Jesus and the Gospel.
And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
Mark 8:34-35 NASB
Commitment to seeking His Kingdom over our own kingdom.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 NASB
Commitment to love God and love people.
And He said to him, ” ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40 NASB
There’s no doubt we will struggle in coming to Him with this kind of urgency and zeal. First, as we know, there is grace. Second, this is why He commands us to abide in Him (John 15:5), promises to meet every need (Php 4:19), and provides for us supernatural rest (Mat 11:28).
The truth is there in black and white. The grace of Jesus allows us to be used by Him to glorify God. Are you a follower… or are you a poser?