Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

Sometimes I get together with friends and talk about ways to make the church better. We talk about things like purpose statements and mission. We talk about commitment and dedication. We talk about tradition and scripture.

Recently one of the things that came out was simple yet profound. It is the difference between being a “believer” and a “disciple.” Most of American Christians fall into the “believer” category. In them is the knowledge/belief that Jesus is who he said he is. There is a belief that we need to accept his teachings. However, too often that is where it ends in kind of a mental assent. It stays within the bounds of our comfort zone.

Being a “disciple” goes to another level all together. When Jesus said things like, “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? (Matthew 16:24-26) He reminds us that there is more to our walk with him than mental understanding and personal comfort. We DIE and follow Jesus WHEREVER and HOWEVER he directs.

Being a disciple is essentially being an apprentice. Jewish students chose their rabbi and tried to become like him. Jesus chose his disciples and challenged them to become like him. He makes the same challenge for us. While we are enamored with heaven and its blessings, the road to get there is not marked with comfort. It is clearly a path of resistance and discomfort; the opposite of what we think.

Yet, look at the end result. Jesus faithfully endured the harshest of sentences. Today, through his faithful obedience, he reigns at the right hand of the Father. That’s good news for the weary.and discomfort!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

I have often used the expression, “rubbing salt in a wound.” Typically, we use it in the same way we use, “turning a knife.” We think of it as a bad, cruel thing.

Today, I was thinking about the expression. It occurred to me that while putting salt in a wound would obviously cause discomfort, it could also be a good thing. Salt in the Bible is different than the “when it rains it pours” salt that we are accustomed to. It contained more minerals and had more properties than ours. “Bible salt” was even extremely valuable. Soldiers (and others) were sometimes paid in salt. This kind of reimbursement led to the expression of someone being “worth his salt.”

If a soldier was wounded and someone put salt on the wound, it was actually to help him. The soldier would experience discomfort but the salt would cleanse the wound. It would also aid in the healing process.

When life’s tragedies come, remember the way of the salt. We often feel discomfort and pain before we heal. If someone “rubs salt in your wound,” remember that in the long run they are helping you to heal. It becomes a valuable albeit uncomfortable experience.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

John Ortberg wrote a humorous and challenging book entitled, If You Want To Walk On Water, You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat. It relates to the event in Matthew 14:22-33 where Jesus (and Peter) walked on the water in the midst of a storm. Imagine how exciting it would have been to have taken even a few steps in the waves!

Stop for a moment and look back at the boat. The other disciples are still in the boat, watching. Only Peter has stepped out and experiienced this spectacular, although short-lived, event. For the rest of his life, Peter could tell of trusting Jesus in this unique way. For the rest of their lives, the disciples could say, “I should have.” Or, “I could have.”

Do you ever get tired of sitting in the “boat”? Do you ever get tired of watching others trust Jesus in exceptional ways? Do you ever say, “I could do that!”? Or, “I should have done that, too!”?

It is time to get out of the boat, even if it rocks. It is time to walk through the storm — by the power of Christ Jesus. Even if we begin to sink, the good news is, Jesus will lift us up! That is the fruit of faith.

But immediately he spoke to them saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.” ~Matthew 14:27

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene (greene.perry@gmail.com)