Madre
04-16-2007, 10:51 AM
...a divided believer attempts to hold his little precious in one hand and Christ in the other, like the rich young ruler who wanted to keep possessions and follow Jesus, and ended up going sadly away.
Some things just do not mix, and attempting to do so destroys both things. A well on our farm produces water and oil at the same time, rendering both unusable. The heavenly disciple is suited for one goal, so becoming a disciple with one goal is simple. When a young toddler is holding something he wants but should not have, all coaxing, imploring, and entreating only cause the child to hide the item behind his back. However, when he is shown something better, without another thought or backward glance he tosses the previously precious item aside to free both hands for grabbing the new thing. This simple illustration is analogous to worldly discipleship, in that when law condemns, revealing that what a disciple is holding is wrong, the law never offers anything better, just more laws; consequently, the disciple takes the sin underground, behind his back, so to speak. One hand is held behind the back while the other is held out front to receive more law.
How can a believer be free from holding two opposing objectives? The writer of the book of Hebrews reveals the secret as he presents Jesus as something better (thirteen times the word better is used). We must always present Jesus to a disciple in such a way that, without thinking or struggling, he drops the good-bad from one hand and the bad-bad from the other in order to grasp Him.
from Heavenly Discipleship
by Michael Wells
Some things just do not mix, and attempting to do so destroys both things. A well on our farm produces water and oil at the same time, rendering both unusable. The heavenly disciple is suited for one goal, so becoming a disciple with one goal is simple. When a young toddler is holding something he wants but should not have, all coaxing, imploring, and entreating only cause the child to hide the item behind his back. However, when he is shown something better, without another thought or backward glance he tosses the previously precious item aside to free both hands for grabbing the new thing. This simple illustration is analogous to worldly discipleship, in that when law condemns, revealing that what a disciple is holding is wrong, the law never offers anything better, just more laws; consequently, the disciple takes the sin underground, behind his back, so to speak. One hand is held behind the back while the other is held out front to receive more law.
How can a believer be free from holding two opposing objectives? The writer of the book of Hebrews reveals the secret as he presents Jesus as something better (thirteen times the word better is used). We must always present Jesus to a disciple in such a way that, without thinking or struggling, he drops the good-bad from one hand and the bad-bad from the other in order to grasp Him.
from Heavenly Discipleship
by Michael Wells