Covenant Thoughts

Today we move on to the part of the covenant prayer that says,

“Put me to what you will,
rank me with whom you will;
put me to doing,
put me to suffering;”

Discipleship is about allowing ourselves to be malleable in God’s hands; to become truly Christ’s disciple in every part of our lives.  Eugene Peterson in the Message has a unique way of reimagining the well know words of Jesus, “Take up your cross and follow me.” He puts it this way, “Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Christiana Tsai was a Christian woman who developed an eye disease that made it impossible for her to see light directly and was virtually blind. She had to wear very dark glasses.

Yet, she did not withdraw into her own room and say how tough life had become. No, she used her limitation to share with all who came to visit her that she was a disciple of Jesus Christ. She wrote about her life and of how Christ was helping her in her weakness and limitation to live as a witness for Christ.

That was her cross. It was not just being blind – people can become blind but not do something for Christ with it. Christiana Tsai used her blindness as her way to show she is a disciple of Christ. That was the cross she bore every day to follow Jesus Christ.

George W. Truett said: "To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge! To do the will of God is the greatest achievement!" 

It is too easy, God

      for faith to become an escape

           - a way to avoid the pain of being human and alive;

      or a path to success

           - a way to persuade the universe to give us the things we want;

      or a system of control

           - a way to bend others to our will

But the faith you offer is different, Jesus,

      more dangerous and compelling;

It's the faith that carries the cross,

      that embraces death

           and lays itself down for the sake of others;

It's the only faith that can lead us to resurrection

      to life renewed and overflowing.

We praise you for this faith, God,

      and open our hearts to receive it. Amen.