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Luke:9:51-56

Thrive where you are

The flower in the photo is remarkable because of where it has managed to grow. Flowers, in my mind, are delicate and fragile so I don’t expect to see them growing out of a crack in the pavement. It is hardly an ideal place for a plant to grow, let alone thrive.

No, I’m not going to say I’m a flower. But I will say that Christ is able to make me thrive in conditions which are not ideal. Like the tree in Jeremiah 17:7-8, growing in the desert, it can thrive and bear fruit because it is planted next to a river so that it has plenty of water. Christ is the river in my life that enables me to bear the Fruit of the Spirit within the context of difficult and overwhelming conditions.

The cost of being Christ’s is that I do live in the harshness of the desert where the sun is hot and there are times of drought. As Christ’s plant I must not hesitate from investing myself in producing fruit because of the heat in my life. On the contrary, Christ would have other people be encouraged, be comforted, be made wise, be strengthened by my fruit, which metaphorically, they can pick and eat. In the desert, I would expect to find a cactus with spikes; so finding a tree bearing fruit which is good to eat is surprising.

Christ wants you to thrive where you are, in your home, in your family, at work or at school, in Church and in your community. Despite the prickliness of people and the brokenness of this world, Christ would have you bear his fruit so that you can bring life to people all around you. Like the flower in the photo Christ will enable you to thrive where you are. the Rev

Luke 9:51-62 Follow Christ: Pay the Price

Exercises

• Discuss what were some of the costs which Christ paid up until this point (in v57-58). Share how you have been surprised by what Christ has made you pay.

• Discuss why Christ is so confronting (in v59-60). Share in what areas Christ is trying to awaken you to himself and in what way?

• Discuss what Christ’s means by not ‘looking back.’ (in v61-62). Share one way in which your loyalty is divided between yourself and Christ. How can we pray with you so that your loyalty will be solely for Christ?

Prayer: Lord Jesus I praise you for the way you didn’t spare yourself, replacing a normal life by bearing the cost of saving the world. Forgive me for my excuses and divided loyalties. So often I’m living for myself rather than for you or other people. Deepen my love for you and people so that I will better follow you.  Amen