Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

In Chapter 15 of Luke’s Gospel, Dr. Luke pays attention to the lost race and most importantly how God sees and treats them as opposed to how people see and treat them. In the parable of the lost sheep our God goes after the lost sheep, leaving the ninety-nine sheep in the open country. Luke presents the heart of God in a striking way of contrast with that of the Pharisees and the experts in the law who condemned and judged the tax collectors and the prostitutes as public sinners. The loan sharks, drug dealers, pimps, homosexuals, and slanderers and swindlers are the ones our God goes after with immeasurable compassion and mercy until he finds them. It’s because they get lost although they never mean to get lost. They are simply the victims of the mastermind of the lie and murder, the devil. In the parable of the lost coin, our Lord makes a great revelation how our God searches the lost ones. There are three divine activities of God—shining light a lamp, sweeping the house, and search carefully until he finds the lost.  

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)

Here ten silver coins must be a dowry for the woman in the parable our Lord Jesus tells. Ten silver coins don’t have significant monetary value itself but symbolically incomparable value to the woman because it is inseparable part of her. That’s the reason why she searches very carefully suppose she loses one of ten coins until she finds it. In light of the previous parable, the parable of the lost sheep our Lord Jesus is teaching who are really the lost. All human race in Adam is lost without an exception. No one means to get lost but all is born in Adam that way.

In this parable of the lost coin, our Lord Jesus uses one lost silver coin to teach who the lost are. Since the owner of the silver coins never means to lose, the lost coin indicates the lost ones who are ignorantly and unknowingly lost. The coin has been there years so it hasn’t been even noticed until it is suddenly found lost. There are many people who started a Christian life with vigor, excitement, and commitment and most Christians do, and yet suddenly get lost without any noticeable trace. They may be raised in the Christian family amply protected and guided by the believing parents, the church, and most importantly by the scriptures. But when they leave home and are exposed to the world without protection and guidance which they have taken it for granted, they feel the tremendous urges and desires for the wrongdoings and transgressions. Right at the moment they begin to rationalize with a powerful force that everyone is doing it. Apostle Paul calls the experience as sold to sin, being deceived.

“For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death.” (Romans 7:11)

How does our God see and treat such an ignorantly and unknowingly lost? Jesus says, “Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?” That’s how our God in heaven reacts when one of his own children is unintentionally and unknowingly lost. It doesn’t mean that God is ignorant and unknowing when his children get lost. Rather, it means the lost one doesn’t know that he gets lost.

There are three divine activities involved in finding the lost one. First, he shines light by kindling a tremendously big search light out of the dark world. God can use anything as a tool to shine light upon the fallen race. Nature is one, natural disaster another, and disease yet another. Difficulties and struggles in daily lives are also used to shine the divine light, constantly and faithfully beaming the ray of truth and reality. That’s how our God shines a great search light out of the darkened mind and heart of people. No light no seeing. No light no understanding. No light no perceiving. What is it that the lost one do not see, understand, and perceive? It is that they cannot live with all the costs of their own. There is nothing more dangerous and harmful than the lie that man has what it takes.

Is it not the lie the devil disguised and masqueraded as a shining one in the garden who beguiled the woman? The cunning deceiver said to the woman the most dangerous and harmful lie, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5) So, the case is hopeless because there is absolutely nothing for the race can do to get out of the fall. The first thing God did to Adam and the woman was to make a visitation in the cool of the day. It is the divine act of shining the gigantic search light upon the fallen and lost race. That’s the first and foremost divine activity of God.

Next, our God does sweep the house. This divine activity of God is being conducted under the shining light because no one can sweep the house in the darkness. Sweeping is cleaning the house. It’s put everything in order so that the lost coin may be found. It’s the activity of removing the dross and trash. That’s what God is doing to find the lost one by sweeping and cleaning the dross and waste. What is it the dross and waste deeply embedded in humanity? It’s the blindness and stubbornness of the fallen humanity. Despite the brilliant light shining around and upon the race out of the darkness many shut the mind and heart deliberately not to see it.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Romans 1:20-21)

It is not true that the fallen humans take the initiative to go back to God out of desperation and cry for help. It is not possible for the lost race to come and ask God for help unless they are drawn by the merciful and graceful hand of God who shines a great light through nature, body, storms, earthquakes, and volcanic explosions, billions of billions of galaxies, chronic diseases, and broken human relationships. Our Lord Jesus says so out of his own lips that no one can come to him unless the Father in heaven draws them.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:44)

There was a man called Saul of Tarsus. He was so zealous and fervent for the Mosaic teachings of the Law that he would destroy the sect of the Nazarenes who were following Jesus Christ. He was charging and brewing the murderous passion to root out the Nazarenes from the face of the earth because he believed that it was the way to defend the Law of God. He was ignorantly and unknowingly blinded and darkened and missed the whole point not seeing the longsuffering and patient heart of God. Eventually, God arrested him in a dramatic way on the road to Damascus. It’s the divine act of sweeping and cleansing the dross and facades in Saul surgically and drastically operated by the merciful and truthful hand of the Father in heaven. The Scripture says that it took years for Saul to get fully and wholly the revelation of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was so obsessed with the old traditions and rituals that it took years until he learned and understood the new way of life in Jesus Christ. He was released and freed from the legalistic way of life and fully experienced of being made righteous in Christ under the new covenant.

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)

Our God then searches carefully until he finds the lost one. Carefulness observed is not because God may be making a mistake in finding the lost one, but because he is making the lost one holy and blameless. The Holy God cannot accept any dross and waste because he is holy. Jesus says to his disciples that they shall be holy for the Father in heaven is holy.

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

There is a remarkable dialogue recorded in the Prophecy of Malachi between the LORD God and the people of Judah. This is the exact reflection of the self-centered and stubborn humanity that they deliberately don’t see the divine provisions of God. All they do is to exalt themselves and to blame God when the things go wrong. But God carefully searches the mind and heart of man with a great light and sweeping actions for them to see through truth and reality in light of the heart and mind of God.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord.

“But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’

“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”

Edom may say, “Though we have been crushed, we will rebuild the ruins.”

But this is what the Lord Almighty says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Wicked Land, a people always under the wrath of the Lord. You will see it with your own eyes and say, ‘Great is the Lord—even beyond the borders of Israel!’

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

“By offering defiled food on my altar.

“But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.

“Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 1:2-9)

That’s how our God searches carefully the lost one by lighting a lamp, sweeping the house, and searching carefully until he finds them. When he finds them, he shares joy and delight with his friends and neighbors together. Our Lord Jesus adds a phrase which he says the same in the parable of the lost sheep.

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

It strongly suggests that all events happening on the earth are closely related to the heaven though it is invisible. There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. The source of rejoicing is God only who loves the lost ones with compassionate heart and merciful hand until he finds them. The angles of God continue to participate in the rejoicing with God who continues to search carefully the lost one.
"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." (Jude 1:24-25)

Prayer: Thank you our heavenly Father for your compassionate heart and merciful hand unceasingly offering a great light, sweeping the house and searching carefully in order make us holy and blameless and acceptable and presentable in the sight of the Holy God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 17, 2015

© 2015 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)

Chapter 15 of Luke moves to the pertinent topic why our God earnestly pleas people to respond to his generous invitation call to the banquet. The theme of this Chapter is who the lost are. Although all humanity is lost and fallen the Scripture never misses to spell out who the lost really are. It’s because there are a great deal of misunderstandings and ignorance on how to treat the lost. There are three parables, the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable of the lost sons. Not a single individual is left out in the parables. All is lost in Adam. That’s the reason for our God to invite all to the well-prepared banquet and come to join in the fellowship with Christ Jesus the Lord who is the living water, abundantly outpouring love, joy, peace unto the faithful comers. When our Lord says, “Come, for everything is now ready,” it means what it says. Yes, everything is now ready, so just come and take all inheritance through the faith in Christ Jesus.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

The first parable is the lost sheep. The great misunderstanding on the lost sheep is not failing to identify whom they are, but failing to know how to treat them. The dangerous bigotry and prejudice on those lost people by the Pharisees and the teachers of the law moved our Lord to speak on this issue.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:1-2)

Our Lord Jesus invited the tax collectors and sinners and taught them. A great number of people joined and listen to Jesus. But the religious leaders strongly opposed him because they totally ignored the tax collectors and prostitutes and treated them as the scum of the earth. To the eyes of the religious leaders they were nothing but the traitors and sinners condemned by the Law. They were the outcasts socially and religiously in such a tight-knit community and thus blocked to join the synagogues. The religious leaders asserted that such a people was already condemned and cursed.

In our days they may be loan sharks, pimps, human traffickers, drug dealers, etc. How easy is it to condemn such a people! There is absolutely no room for mercy on those who practice evil and wicked things. There is no time to lose in swift and relentless condemnation and curse on those people. But our Lord Jesus tells us a parable which truly rebukes our bigoted and self-righteous mind through the revelation of the heart of God. Here is the parable of the lost sheep.

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:3-7)

Our Lord Jesus tells a story in which a shepherd lost one sheep out of one hundred and went out to find it. Here Jesus is saying that the lost one is one of the tax collectors and sinners or the loan sharks and drug dealers. What is sheep which Jesus picks up out of numerous animals? Sheep is known as one of dumbest and feeblest animals because they are almost certain to get lost without the shepherd’s care. But one notable thing is that they get lost without any adventurous intension or deliberation at all. Nevertheless, they get lost although they don’t mean to. That’s how our God sees those people who are hopelessly lost although they don't mean to at all. In fact, sheep do not know that they are getting lost until they are utterly lost.

As the lost sheep is never happy but awfully terrorized and bewildered so are the lost people. Since they never meant to get lost they are frustrated and unsatisfied and upset at the destination they have arrived. So, as millions of people always do, they dig in further, trying to search for the satisfaction and fulfillment in life. But no matter how they try and what they accomplish they are more irritated and annoyed. They do not know that they have been hopelessly lost. Who does want to get lost anyways? That’s the picture of the fallen race.

There was a man named Levi who became a tax collector in the first century. He was a young man born in an ordinary Jewish family and as others desire quite naturally so also he wanted to fulfill his life. One historical fact is that he lived under the iron grip of Roman power which was dominant and supreme on much of the land around the Mediterranean including the Palestine in the first century. It is sure that it wasn’t the time of King David. Eventually he ended in occupying the seat of tax collector as his profession. On a usual but crucial day, he was visited by a man named Jesus of Nazareth and invited to follow him. It might be like a thundering voice from heaven to him when he heard of saying, “Follow me!”

“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. ‘Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.’” (Luke 5:27-28)

Why did he leave everything and follow Jesus? If he were fully satisfied and fulfilled in wearing the tax collector’s cloth he would not have left everything and followed a rugged country preacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Something constantly annoyed and bothered and even haunted him day and night, let alone the harsh and cold treatment of the neighbors and relatives against him. He got lost by making several missteps one after another. He had no way to turn and the case seemed hopeless and gloomy. He got stuck in the mud of taxing business which his own people condemned it as a traitor’s work. He was obviously in agony and torment, not knowing what to do and where to turn and yearning to take the happiness and enjoyment of life back.

As in the parable a shepherd who lost a sheep and left ninety-nine sheep in the open country and went after the lost one until he found it, so did our Lord Jesus come into the world to go after Levi, a lost one until he found him. Apostle John wrote in his Gospel that God so loved the world that he sent his begotten Son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). God never gives up the lost ones but keeps on reaching out his loving and kind hand with wounds and bruises to the poor and the needy in spirit.

In the Scripture, our God never says that he has done with those swindlers, fornicators, robbers, thieves, slanderers, greedy, drunkards, homosexuals, idolaters but faithfully wants them to repent and be cleansed and washed and justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

When the shepherd found the lost sheep, joyfully put it on his shoulders and went home. Then he called his friends and neighbors together and said, “Rejoice with me for I have found my lost sheep.” Our Lord Jesus says, in the same way, that there will more rejoicing over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. That’s our God’s heart. He wants the lost to repent. But our God is not just waiting doing nothing but has already demonstrated his unfailing love for the lost people by letting his one and only Son die in horrible and unimaginable sufferings on the cross of Calvary.

Apostle Paul acclaimed and even shouted for the unfailing love of God which has demonstrated and manifested on a hillside just outside of the city of Jerusalem, the city of God in the first century just exactly at God’s appointed time. Who can understand the height and depth of his love? Who can fathom the length and width of his giving heart through the Son Christ Jesus?

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” (Romans 8:32-35)

Is it not the Christmas’ spirit? The Maker of the heavens and the earth became a man in keeping the promise to send the Savior of the world. The Immortal became a mortal and died in our place. The tidings of the coming of the Savior was delivered by an archangel Gabriel to Joseph who was pledged to marry to Mary, which was prophesied by Prophet Isaiah some seven hundred years before Christ came.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matthew 1:23)

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

The Son of Man came to the earth and walked on the corners and streets of the towns and villages, healed the sick, drove out the demons, and taught the kingdom of God. He was perfected by his death and finished the work of redemption for the fallen race. He did not save himself in order to save the lost like us. He did not revenge when he was reviled but entrusted himself to the Father who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). He faithfully defends those who believe in him through the shield of his blood from all accusations and charges by the devil.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Our Lord Jesus is strong enough to keep us from falling and sinking and to present us as the blameless and faultless and holy bride on the Day of the Lord.

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

Prayer: Thank our heavenly Father for your unfailing love for the lost that through the Son of Man and his death and blood all may be delivered and liberated from the bondage of falling. Praise the faithful Father who is the Immanuel despite of our transgressions and sins because he rejoices the lost who repents. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

December 10, 2015

© 2015 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Price for Being a Disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:25-35)

Our Lord Jesus was still on the way to the city where he would lay down his life through a violent death. From the beginning Jesus had in mind going up the city of God where he would be perfected as the Son of God (Hebrews 2:10). It’s been designed and planned even before the time began and prophesied and foretold centuries and centuries through the Law and the prophets. He had to pay the price for the world to be redeemed and released from the bondage and captivity of darkness and confusion. He had to be the ransom for the sin of the world which meant to be crucified on a cross like a criminal because it was the way to life.

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’” (Luke 14:25-27)

What our Lord Jesus says seems quite a shock as it is uttered. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.” How can we understand when our loving and merciful Lord says to hate our parents, wives and children, siblings, and even our own life? What it really hits the listener is the word, ‘hate.’ God told the prophet Malachi that he had loved Jacob but hated Esau.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.” (Malachi 1:2-3)

The Scripture says that God is good and holy which means he cannot be wicked and evil. How can God know then which is good or evil. Since he is good he simply relates to himself to know the difference. So, when the scriptures say that he hated Esau it means God does not accept him because he continually refused to value the birthright and pursued his fleshly desires like filling up his stomach whatever cost even forfeiting the inheritance as the first son. In fact, it is impossible for God to receive Esau as what he was in the flesh unless he changed his mind and repented of trespasses and transgressions.

Our God is good which means he never changes or bends by any circumstances ever. He is just and faithful all time now and forevermore. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He always acts in truth. There is no favoritism upon flesh and blood. Anyone violates the Law of God cannot escape the consequence of his wrath at any moment in the visible and invisible realm. Anyone who violates the law of gravity cannot escape the consequence of jumping into conclusion. Though it may not happen immediately it doesn’t mean that they can escape from the wrath of God. Our God delays his judgment in longsuffering and patience, giving numerous opportunities to rethink and repent sincerely before it’s too late.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)

God is good and unchanging so that we can trust in him now and forevermore. Why did God love Jacob but hate Esau? Those who know about Jacob may have some difficulty how God loved him. God does not love according to what we do but according to what we are. The way God thinks and acts is different from what we think and act. Prophet Isaiah prophesied why at times we have difficulties to understand why God doesn’t act quickly enough like getting rid of the evil ones on the face of the earth like Hitler or ISIS.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

It is not possible for God to hate anyone the way we often do to others caused by self-centeredness and self-righteousness. It is true that God hated Esau. What it means is that it is impossible for God to accept Esau who rejected and disobeyed him. God cannot accept anyone who rejects him for he is holy. Nor does God force anyone to obey him. It doesn’t mean that God is done with anyone who once disobeys him. When God rejected Cain and his offering the man was angry. However, God visited him to tell the truth.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.’” (Genesis 4:4-7)

Prophet Isaiah prophesied that God wanted the people to come and reason with him who was ready to cleanse their sins like scarlet and to make them as white as snow.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:18-20)

This is exactly what our Lord Jesus is saying here unless anyone hates his parents, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life he cannot be a disciple of Jesus. If anyone wants to be a disciple of Jesus and follow him must love God first and persistently than anything else even if they may be parents, wife and children, brothers and sisters, even his own life.

And Jesus says “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27) What our Lord is saying here is that he is going to die on a cross in our place for the sin of the world. Likewise, anyone who wants to be his disciple must carry his cross and follow him. What is cross? It’s the symbol of death, shame, guilt, despair, humiliation, and defeat which are caused by the sin. Although our Lord Jesus was sinless God made him sin for us so that in him we may be righteous in his sight.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

This is the way, the life, and the truth and no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6). The enemy of race is not humans. It is sin since Adam fell. There is no way for the fallen race to have peace with God other than through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the righteousness of God coming down from heaven. He has went back to the Father through the violent death on the cross of Calvary. He has paid the full price for ransom to redeem us from the bondage of destruction and ruin.

Then our Lord Jesus illustrates further why it is the way in two stories. One is the story of a builder and the other is that of a king who is about to go to war.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.” (Luke 14:28-32)

Both cases tell the obviousness of measuring the feasibility and viability of completing the job. It may be called the feasibility analysis which estimates the cost before launching the building project and going out to war. The story gives serious warning if not doing the estimate. That unwariness and imprudence may invite a ridicule or a disaster. So, the point of the story is to yield and submit before falling into beyond recoverability. Life is too big for us to handle it. It is too complicated and complex to figure it out not to mention to build it. It is beyond our capability to make peace with God. We humans are inherently lost and do not even know the fact that we are completely lost. That’s what our Lord is saying here.

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. ‘Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’” (Luke 14:33-35)

This is a serious statement which is true. Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be his disciple. We don’t have to think it strange at all for God made us that way from the beginning. The Scripture never says that God let us live at all our costs no matter what. That’s not true. We are designed and made to live at all costs of God himself. Apostle Paul states clearly the fact that we are made to be God’s holy temple.

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Our Lord Jesus revealed the secret of living as a man in the earth. Though he was the Son who received all power from the Father, he could do nothing by himself. In fact, he could do anything he wanted to do like recreating the whole universe after destroying the corrupt humanity and the universe, but he didn’t. Rather, he obeyed the Father to the point of death, giving his life for the sin of the world.

“Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19)

That’s the secret of having a real life. Our Lord Jesus demonstrated that he became nothing, being emptied himself and giving up all the rights he begot as God and obeyed the Father by giving his life unto the One who entrusted him. Apostle Paul says so pertinently regarding a new life in Christ that all competency is from God, not from us.

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5)

Jesus says his disciples that they are salt and light in the world. And he gives a word of warning not to lose its saltiness because it will be useless to anything and thus thrown out. Salt is for prevention of corruption. It simply melts away and disappears of its form and yet powerfully and invisibly works for preservation. That’s the authentic Christianity. We’re not called to advance our program or agenda, but to be salt in the midst of wolves in the world, continually denying ourselves and taking up the cross and following the Master.

Prayer: Thank you Father for teaching us the secret of life in Christ that by being nothing in him we shall live as the salt of the world. In Christ’s name. Amen.

December 3, 2015

© 2015 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.