.jpg)
If you are looking for good, clean entertainment, you need to come sit at our kitchen table while I help Sophie and Bianca with their fourth grade math handouts. I’ll be honest, the first time I sat down, I thought to myself, “Fourth grade math…easy.” As I read the instructions or lack of them, I began to scramble for understanding and struggled to maintain the idea that I was fully in control. Their eyes were fixed on me. I was clueless.
For some reason, the old math isn’t good enough anymore. You know…simple addition and subtraction. Instead you have to draw pictures, tell stories. It’s a multi-step process that is actually extremely confusing for me so I usually defer to Mark. I’m not sure he offers any more help than I do.
You know, we tend to make our Christian experience confusing too if we don’t stay focused on the basics.
This morning I was reading in Matthew and it got me thinking about the fact that the Christian life is a simple lesson in addition and subtraction.
Matt 16:24-26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
We live in a culture that wants to “add Christ” to our lives. We go to church. We enjoy the worship. We get involved. We add this experience to our already busy plans but we are left with a lot of confusion and little to no joy. It never occurs to us that God isn’t interested in being added to our lives and plans. He wants to take them over.
God isn’t intersted in being added to our lives and plans. He wants to take them over.
Christ tells us in the Bible to stop trying to hang on to your life. Lose it. That’s where subtraction comes in.
He says to hang on to your life is to lose it in the end but to give it up for His sake you will actually save it. This is the foundation to a personal relationship with Christ. If that’s the case, shouldn’t it be that way across the board – for all of us who claim to know Him? To be a Christ-follower means to let go or lose my life, for the life Christ gives me.
It’s simple math. What does it look like to lose our lives for the sake of Christ?
I’m reminded of the story of Jeremiah. Let’s read about how the Lord came to him.
Jeremiah 1:4-9
The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”
The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!
This account is not uncommon to those God called in Scripture. The same story has played out on big and small levels in my life as well.
Let’s look at the pattern.
1. God knew His plan for Jeremiah before Jeremiah even came to be.
GOD HAS A UNIQUE PLAN FOR YOU – FOR YOUR LIFE.
2. God spoke to Jeremiah and told him He appointed him for a purpose.
GOD WILL SHOW YOU HIS PLAN WHEN YOUR PLANS ARE SURRENDERED TO HIM.
3. Jeremiah’s response has been my response many times. “God, I can’t!”
YOU WILL PROBABLY FIND HIS PLAN TO BE BIGGER THAN YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND FEEL UNEQUIPPED.
4. God already knew Jeremiah couldn’t do what He was calling him to. God responds:
- Do what I instruct you to do.
- Don’t be afraid
- I will protect you
GOD WILL INSTRUCT AND PROTECT YOU.
5. My favorite part: God then reached out and touched Jeremiah’s mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth!” God empowered Jeremiah to do what He planned for him to do since before Jeremiah was born.
GOD WILL FULLY EMPOWER YOU TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
What if Jeremiah opted out or told God that he already had his life worked out? He couldn’t be obedient because it would mess up the plans he had already made for himself?
You see, that’s not the response of the one whose life has been transformed by the gospel. To truly surrender to God’s plan for your life is to lose yours in the process.
To truly surrender to God’s plan for your life is to lose yours in the process.
Have you done the simple math? – subtracting your life and adding His.
Or, has it become confusing?
Lose yourself and find Christ.
Christ in you.
Christ through you.
Christ for you.
Jesus leaves us with a compelling question. He asks, “Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Control?
Wealth?
Safety?
Status?
Success?
Worldly pursuits?
Take a minute and think about it. What has held you back from losing your life for Him?
Jesus knows what is at stake and He asks us, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul?”
I leave you with a verse of encouragement this morning from Deuteronomy 30:20. It says, Love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life.
It’s all basic addition and subtraction. The concept is really simple. The command is clear. What will you do with it?
