In Matthew 16:24-26 Jesus says, "Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would 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 shall a man give in return for his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?"
This second post in this series is aimed at helping us stay on mission when it comes to addiction ministry. In the previous post, I mentioned that knowing about and believing in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus only often leads to further deception unless there is a reason for knowing about and believing in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It's one thing to know the truths about any game. Someone might even have knowledge about a game AND believe that the game is a good game to play. However, if they don't know the aim of the game, they'll eventually quit because they get bored, tired, distracted, or simply want to play another game. It's true of games and it's true of life. Addicts will go back to their addiction if they do not understand what it means to follow King Jesus. You and I will choose different paths if we forget what it means to follow King Jesus.
Before we move on any further, what is your immediate reaction to the verses above, to what Jesus told His disciples...those that He spent every day with for about 3 years of His life? Are Jesus' words encouraging, exciting, and engaging? Or are they exhausting, scary, and confusing?
Thankfully, Jesus gave us clarity regarding what He told the disciples. "Coming after Jesus" includes three things: denying one's self, picking up one's cross, and actually following Jesus." Think about the freedom that Jesus is talking about here: (1)Finding pleasure in saying "no" to those things that once forcefully made you say "yes" (denying those things that you loved/desired/wanted before coming to know about and believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus). (2)The joy of engaging in those conversations and situations that highlight the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and which will most likely cause relational and even physical pain (picking up your cross). (3) Making Jesus the King of your life...what He says to do, you will do, where He tells you to go, you will go, who He wants you to converse with, you will talk to, and so on and so forth.
Be honest for a second. Is it good news for you, do you get excited, and do you consider it a joy to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus as King? What about those whom you minister to...those struggling with and coming out of addiction? Have you given them a good understanding of what the Gospel is AND given them a good understanding of what the Gospel calls them to do and how to live? I'll be honest, if I don't wake up in the morning and ask God to help me/cause me to remember that He is King, I'll stop denying myself, I'll lay down my cross, and I'll quit following Him. The same thing will happen to you and the same thing will happen to those you minister to. HOWEVER, it's far worse to know that Jesus is King and live in opposition than to not know that He is King and live in opposition. One person is ignorant the other is rebellious.
My hope for this blog post is that you will be reminded of the Good News of what Jesus did in His life, death, and resurrection SO THAT you will be reminded, encouraged, and exhorted to follow Him in whatever path He has called you to walk.
