Call of Duty: Countermeasure

Christ intentionally made His way to the cross.  It was His call of duty.  Nothing can compare.  Even so, our response to what Christ did that week is a choice. 

What is the call of duty?

Look at the unnamed disciple, the woman that poured expensive oil, worth a year’s wages, on Jesus.  She was called to duty.  To be sure, her actions did not make sense to the people around her . . . however, she was called to Christ and did not separate anything in her life from Him.   (See Mark 14:3-4.)  She courageously put Christ first.  She let nothing and no one deter her, which took guts.

All of us have things that can become consuming . . . relationships, possessions, needs, goals, and dreams.  Perhaps we are consumed because we want it, so, we begin thinking as soon as this happens . . . then I will . . . it might be something like . . . as soon as I am married . . .have a child . . . get that job . . . buy a house . . . then life I will pay more attention to God.  Of course, we often become consumed with what we have.  When we are consumed with the stuff of life, we miss out on what it means to live for Christ.  We never know the privilege of being actively engaged in the call of duty for Christ.  

There is a countermeasure to combat being consumed with the stuff of life.  Put in plain and simple terms, we must surrender.  Courageously surrendering whatever consumes us will release and free us to accept Christ’s call of duty. 

In the same chapter, Mark wrote about the one that did not make the same choice as the unnamed disciple.  His name was Judas.  We know him as the betrayer of Christ: Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Mark 14:10-11)

Here we have the extraordinary story of the call of duty juxtaposed with the horrific story of betrayal.  We know that Christ went to the cross with a purpose, the plan of God.  But, Judas had a choice.  He did not have to be the betrayer.  He was consumed with Jesus being the messiah . . . the one that would save the Jewish people from the oppression of the Roman government. He did not understand the kingdom of heaven that Jesus talked about it . . . he was consumed with the right here and the right now.   

Both Matthew 26:24 and Mark 14:21 say something so harsh . . . that it almost seems beyond comprehension:
The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

The words echo throughout history . . . it would be better for him if he had not been born. 

It begs the question: Are you and I so consumed that we are betraying Jesus Christ?  What do we need to surrender . . . to be free . . . . to take on the call of Christ?

Experience the countermeasure.

Surrender.

Respond to the call of Christ. 

Learning with you to KICK START the day . . . called to duty.

                                      Pastor Kerrie 

 (written by Kerrie Palmer © 2010 All Rights Reserved)
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