Things are not always as we want them to be. Disappointments, disasters, distresses, diseases, dilemmas, discouragement and depression destroy our dreams and desires.
Problems seem to be the norm and solutions seem inadequate. Our need is urgent, and we see no light at the end of the tunnel. How will we get through this?
But that is not my business. It is God’s business. And in His time and way He will take us through the crisis. He has made many promises and He will be sure to keep them.
Too often when things go awry, we want to take charge, to take control, to speak right out what God needs to be doing. But it is not for us to do so.
The Bible says, “From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's.’ Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.’” Matthew 16:21-27 (NASB).
Peter took as his responsibility the prevention of Jesus’ death. But, that was not his decision to make. That belonged to Jesus.
So, what part is mine and what part is not mine?
I. MY PART IS TO TRUST, NOT TO TAKE OVER:
A. Peter was a take-over guy and here is an example of that:
1. When Jesus said that He would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the religious leaders and that He would be killed, good old Peter was there with His 2 cents worth:
a. “Peter took Him aside and began to reprimand Him for saying such things. ‘Heaven forbid, Lord,’ He said. ‘This will never Happen to You!’”
b. You gotta be kidding me! Peter reprimanded Jesus? Servant contradicted Master? It was not Peter’s place to take over like that.
2. Peter was the man with a plan. And it did not include the cross. He wanted to take over when he should have trusted.
B. His heart was right, but he often let his love for Jesus cause him to make rash promises and impetuous decisions. He often reacted to circumstances without thinking; he put his mouth into gear before engaging his brain.
1. When it appeared that their hopes and dreams of a new Kingdom were down the drain, Peter brashly contradicted the Lord.
2. But it was not his place to take over and tell Jesus that He was not going to go to the cross.
C. It is not our place to take over either. Yet I have a tendency to give God “Plan A” and in case that doesn’t work, I give “Plan B.” And in the extreme, I can even fabricate “Plan C.” I want to make sure to cover all the bases. But it is not mine to take over.
D. It is mine to trust. The poem by Ethel Voas reveals the lack of, and need for, trust on our part
"I cannot understand
the ‘why' and ‘wherefore' of a thousand things:
the burdens, the annoyances, the daily stings.
I cannot understand,
but I can trust
for perfect trusting perfect comfort brings.
I cannot clearly see
Why life to one brings joy - unlocked for’ gain,
while to another bitter heartaches come, and pain.
I cannot clearly see - But I can trust,
and by and by my Father will explain.
I cannot see the end,
the hidden meaning of each trial sent;
the pattern into which each tangled thread is bent.
I cannot see the end,
but I can trust
and in God's changeless love I am content."
E. It is not ours to take over, it is ours to trust. One day, a man and his son Zac were out in the country, climbing around on some big rocks. Suddenly, Dad heard a voice from above him yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" Dad turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at him. Zac had jumped and at the same time yelled "Hey Dad!" Dad became an instant rescuer and caught him. Both fell to the ground.
When he found his voice again Dad gasped in exasperation: "Zac! Can you give me one good reason why you did that???" He responded, "Sure...because you're my Dad." His whole confidence was based on the fact that his father was trustworthy, so he took it on himself to holler and jump Isn't this need for trust even more true for a Christian? Ours is to trust, but not to jump carelessly.
IF I TRUST I WILL YIELD TO JESUS.
II. MY PART IS TO FOLLOW, NOT TO FIND MY OWN WAY:
A. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
B. What does it mean to follow?
1. To go the same direction to the same place, behind or beside a leader.
2. To emulate, or, in a good sense, to mimic. Like the 9 year old boy on Funniest Home Videos who went to cheerleader practice with his sister and could be seen in the background doing every move the girls were doing, mimicking them move for move.
C. The important thing is that we follow that intentionally.
1. If we follow Him we will not try to run ahead of Jesus. Sometimes I am prone to leap ahead and to say, “Try to keep up, Lord!”
2. If we follow Him we will not try to chart our own course.
a. Solomon said, “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25 (NASB).
b. Isaiah said, “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6 (NASB).
3. If we follow Him we will not try to chase rabbits like the young pointer on his first pheasant hunt. He was not fully trained or experienced so when he got a whiff of rabbit he was all over the place following rabbit trails. Do not let the world or the flesh or the devil side-track you.
4. If we follow Him we will not try to drag our feet.
a. There are times when we know God wants us to go, and we choose to stay; when we know God is leading us right and we want to go left.
b. Like Alisha’s Shitzu, FeeBee. She is nice, mellow, loving, companionable – and stubborn. When Marlene and I dog-sit and I walk her, if I want to go one direction she wants to go another, so she will dig her feet into the grass and pull against the leash for all she is worth.
D. We need to follow Him without resistance because it is for our good and He knows the way.
1. With David say, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.” Psalm 23:1-3 (NASB).
2. It is safe to follow. God has said, “I have directed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths.” Proverbs 4:11 (NASB).
E. A young woman wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application that asked, "Are you a leader?" She was honest so she wrote, "No," and returned the application, expecting to be rejected. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower." While we should be leading others to Jesus, we can’t do it until we follow Him. (S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases.)
If Jesus had just one follower, would it be me? Would it be you?
IF I TRUST AND FOLLOW JESUS, I WILL REMEMBER THAT
III. MY PART IS TO BEAR A CROSS, NOT TO BECOME RICH:
A. “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’”
B. Let it be understood that being rich is no sin, God may make you rich. But there are caveats:
1. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24 (NASB).
2. “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10 (NASB).
3. “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,...” 1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NASB).
4. We might be rich to the world and poor to God.
C. But if we bear our cross we will crucify greed and avarice, selfishness, idolatry, spiritual adultery, and materialism.
D. Cross bearing
1. Is voluntary. We have to take up our cross. We can’t call a sickness or anything we have not chosen as “my cross to bear.” Those are more properly called “Thorns in the flesh.”
2. Is sacrifice that we choose to make for the sake of Jesus and for the good of others.
3. Is willingness to suffer, and die if need be, for being loyal to Jesus.
4. Is dying to sin and the world.
5. Is essential to wearing a crown – if you don’t bear the cross, you can’t wear a crown.
E. Julie and Mark came to understand the full meaning of Jesus’ words. They were married. They were filled with the joys and expectations of married life together. A year into the marriage, Julie was stricken with a paralyzing stroke. She couldn't talk. She couldn't move. She couldn't eat, or dress, or do any of the daily things for herself. Her parents volunteered to take care of her so Mark could just leave and get on about his life. But Mark refused to fail in his covenant with Julie. For the next 25 years he was her hands and feet. He provided trained day care for her and every evening, night and week-end he was by her side in loving attendance upon her needs. Some felt sorry for Mark. But it was his desire to look outward to the needs of his life companion. And he did it with devotion, he did it with gladness, he did it with unselfishness. Julie’s unchosen thorn in the flesh became Mark’s chosen cross.
Even when the worst possible thing strikes, it doesn't erase any of God’s promises. We can continue to trust and follow and bear our cross. Even if that which Has made us miserable may not go away, it will not rob us of the peace and joy God give us.
And when we focus not on trouble, but on trust; when we follow in His footsteps wherever He may lead and when we surrender what will not last to gain what will never fade away, we will be blessed.
My challenge to you is to try, the next time bad news strikes to continue to praise God for His mercies, His blessings and His grace. Then the problem, although still there, will seem to shrink in power to overwhelm us and the powerful arms of God will undergird us.
Jesus, I choose to follow
For I don’t know the way.
Jesus, walk beside me
And guide me every day.
Though all the way be weary
And though I suffer grief
And though the night be dreary
I trust You for relief.
I hear You softly calling;
“Take your cross and follow Me,
I bore my cross and gave my life
On the hill called Calvary.”
No matter what may come my way,
I know You’re by my side,
Protecting, keeping, saving
Whatever may betide
So, Jesus, where You lead me,
I can safely go.
I’ll follow You with trusting heart
While living here below.
My riches are laid up above;
I’ll get them all someday.
They’re safe, secure and guaranteed
Where naught can take away.
Dave Nolte 2021
