WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: How radical are you in your pursuit of real discipleship? Pause now to identify at which points in your life you could really describe yourself as radical? Spiritual radicalism There is something very appealing about the demanding spiritual radicalism of today’s reading. The younger we are, the more attractive it may appear. It’s as though we long for absolute demands that cater to our desire to sacrifice ourselves gloriously for some cause. Then we can appear good to others; then we shall please our Master by our efforts on his behalf. And, indeed, Jesus does command his followers to be salty (v 50). Testing our worth But look at how he finishes verse 50: ‘and live at peace with each other’. Jesus is still addressing the problems of his followers’ status-seeking self-promotion, their lack of humility and servant-heartedness. To treat a child dismissively is spiritual suicide (v 42). If any part of you leads you into sin, take the most radical action possible to ensure that you can be followers of Jesus in the kingdom of God (vs 43–48). And, clearly, testing will come and the ‘saltiness’ of our commitment will be tested – not so as to make us look glorious, but to test our worth before Jesus, the Servant of the Lord. As ever it is our commitment to him that matters. Respond: Examine your own heart before God. Are there any habits of mind or practice that he would have you address? Do you seek status or despise others as humble and unworthy of your attention? http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-09-18