MOLD ME AND MAKE ME AFTER THY WILL
. . . WITH A FRESH START
When we break a plate, ordinarily we simply toss it and get a new one. But what happens when a person is broken? Many of us know what it’s like to be broken – whether by circumstances, poor choices, or our own sinfulness. But God does not treat us like a broken dish. He restores us. He desires for us the best life offers. He will even work with us to turn our brokenness into a vessel worthy of His “well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of thy Lord.” So, may our prayer to God be, “Mold me and make me after thy will!”
Yes, Dear Lord, Mold Me and Make Me After Thy Will -- WITH A FRESH START!
Do you believe in giving people a second chance? Think about it: What if they did something heinous? Had you served on the parole board, would you have granted O. J. Simson another chance? Before answering that “loaded” question, just remember that you and I may not know all the circumstances nor are we legally qualified to render a judgment. On second thought, just keep your answer to yourself.
Gives us something to think about, doesn’t it? Another question: What if you were God? Wouldn’t it be an awesome responsibility to decide whether to pardon vile and sinful people like me?
What if you walked in one Sunday morning and heard me yelling, swearing and cursing in front of a dear old saint of God, then you questioned me about it and asked whether Jesus would be pleased with me, I denied my faith in Christ?
It’s hard to believe, but the one whom Jesus called “The Rock” performed miserably as the hypocritical “me” that I just described: John 18:15-18 . . . 25-27 . . .
What we see in this text is Peter jumping off a cliff, but go back in time and remember that in the beginning of our Lord’s earthly ministry Peter was close to Jesus. “Thou art the Christ!” he had shouted, and was commended for his faithful affirmation. Spiritual victory was his that day just as surely as the victory of David over Goliath was on the day a mere lad slew a raging giant!
However, it’s after a great spiritual victory when we must be on guard, for in those moments we are most vulnerable! It was after killing Goliath that David sinned. It was after the miraculous flood that Noah committed indecency. It was after Samson mopped up the floor with a bunch of Philistines that he messed up. AND, it was after a great revelation received by Peter that he began his downward spiral.
Folks, it’s not good to presume upon the Lord by trying to replace His Will with our own, nor to let pride get the best of us by taking the easy way out when the going gets tough. If we don’t deny self, eventually we deny Christ.
Think about the words “pride” and “sin”. See what they have in common? Both words have “I” in the middle. A proverb that stays in my mind is the one that says, “He that trusts in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walks wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26)
As you have matured in your walk with Christ, has it occurred to you how powerful the effect of the absence of prayer on your life? Prayerlessness must be put up there with presumption and pride as one of the chief causes of falling out of God’s good graces. So, folks, don’t forget to pray!
A quote you might want to pass along to someone who appears to be on the brink of stepping off the proverbial cliff: “A worldly Christian will stop praying but a praying Christian will stop their worldliness.” Passing this on might get a person we care about to pay attention to where he is headed if he doesn’t straighten up and fly right!
Often overlooked in this story is a caution flag that we must be aware of – the certainty that a Christian who mixes and mingles in public gathering places will be questioned, challenged, and even taunted for any outward demonstration of faith in Christ. When that happens, how should we handle it?
The Good News : When we, like Peter, fail to measure up to our calling, Jesus restores us – John 21:15-19 . . .
If we get nothing else from this part of the story, don’t miss the main point, and that is, Jesus had not given up on Peter!
Pray: Please don’t give up on me, Lord!
When our Lord gives His disciples another chance, He examines them (us) to make sure they (we) get the reason why He bears with us. Three times Jesus asked Peter – the same question? Well, not exactly. The issue at stake in this series of questions was (is) whether Peter “loved” Jesus in the right way.
Do you love me as “friend” (“What a friend we have in Jesus!”) or as “Lord” and “Master” – the One who “sits upon the throne of your life” and reigns supreme? It’s the difference between “philia” and “agape” . . . Hopefully Jesus’ asking of the question elicits from all His disciples the same sort of grief it generated in Peter . . .
Most of us have learned that it’s going through the grieving experiences in life, as if refined “by fire”, that we emerge victoriously as a better person, a more resolved (determined) follower (“I am resolved no longer to linger, charmed by the world’s delight”), a much more effective servant - as was Jesus who fought through “hell” to gain the glory brought by the Resurrection.
Now that the issue of genuine commitment had been settled with Peter, this old codger was now ready for his assignment of a lifetime, yet one that would put him through the same type of experience Jesus had endured. Only true love prepares a willing witness - to bear the burdens associated with being effectively used in the service of the Master, in the worldwide task of establishing the kingdom for which Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy Name, thy kingdom come.”
“Three strikes and you’re out” could not be said of old Peter. On the third pitch, he hit a home run! “Lord, thou knowest that I ‘agape’ (truly, deeply, with all my heart, mind and soul) Thee!”
Okay then, here’s your assignment: Go in the power of the Spirit to set up My Church for telling all who will listen about God’s Plan for saving the world from death and destruction wrought by evil designs and schemes of enemies of God.
“Feed” (prepare) my disciples for the task – one convert at a time, one step at a time, one new congregation at a time. Do this despite differences of opinion within the Fellowship (Folks can be educated and persuaded) . . . despite forces from without – religious, political or downright sordidness. Yes, you will pay a price for your steadfastness but great will be your reward in heaven.
Folks, the cost of discipleship is something we tend to veer away from when we recruit a Salvation Army, but somehow, we must get back to the basics if we are to take the idea of a “new start” seriously.
My elder son wrote on Facebook a timely attempt at a wake-up call to his brothers and sisters in Christ: “Having become aware this week of a hedonistic, narcissistic, with-out Christ society, I am waking up to the fact that there is a world of folks out there who don’t think and act like me and my friends. We are living in a society where Jesus Christ is not making a difference, and it is because of me. If you think that sounds a bit trite, I do too, but I don’t know what else to say now. It’s time to figure out how I need to change to have a bigger impact on my culture.”
Do you agree or disagree? If so, to what extent? You be my son’s advisor. What do you suggest to him and his friends?
Let me ask you a question: Are you willing to assess your associations . . . allegiances . . . your chances to influence the culture of which you are a part?
Do you love Jesus? If so, would you be willing to go for a “single” since at our age and stage in life it’s not likely that we will ever hit another “homerun”? Yes, Lord, mold me and make me after thy Will . . . with a fresh start! Amen.
