If you have your PHD, Doctorate or Master’s you probably want to write a Curriculum Vitae, if not, a Resume, will do nicely. Some people actually do a combination of the “two formats.”
I have been thinking this week about a “Spiritual Resume.” What would you write on one? How would you “explain” or “describe yourself” and your “Christian life and journey?”
According to Luke, “It is devotion that defines discipleship.”
And of course, you do realize that “what” devotion “is and means” is probably different for each of us.
By definition, devotion is loyalty • faithfulness • fidelity • trueness • staunchness • steadfastness • constancy • commitment • adherence • allegiance • dedication • devoutness • fondness • love • admiration • affection • attentiveness • care • warmness and closeness.
Just “HOW” devoted to God are YOU?
It is ALL pretty SUBJECTIVE.
And, I am pretty sure, that is what Jesus would have said, as well.
Jesus saw this all coming. He is headed toward Jerusalem and the crowds are coming out of nowhere and everywhere.
The cross looms in front of him and he can see it coming.
Hordes of people were showing up, just for a glimpse of him.
“GREAT CROWDS” were following him, and every time I see that in the scriptures, that always seems to signify (at least to me) a “significant problem.”
Or, trouble a foot!
Yep the crowds are coming, great crowds, enormous crowds, big crowds…
But from Jesus’ viewpoint that is not always “a good thing.”
Are they coming out of “curiosity?”
Are they coming because they “want” something?
Are they coming just to “catch of glimpse of him?” To see for themselves?
Are they coming because they want to be followers?
Are they physically present out of DEVOTION?
What is the motivation?
Why do they come?
Now many would say, he should “just be happy” that they are coming…true…
But when the crowds are so great, they usually come with purpose…with something in mind.
This one has a back ache and can no longer work.
This one has a headache just like Peter’s mother-in-law-had…
This one has a heart ache and is more than morose…
This one has a deformity…
This one limps…
This one has a skin disease…
This one cannot see…
And on and on, they keep coming…
There were “hordes of people,” “tons of people” just wanting to jump on the Jesus bandwagon…
Touch the hem of his robe…
Let his shadow cast itself upon you…
Try and get up next to him…
Take a selfie with Jesus…
His popularity was sky-rocketing…
And his eyes and his heart were fixed on Jerusalem and what laid ahead of him…
So, he said to the crowds, “Whoever does not hate his mother, father, brothers and sisters, spouse, and his own children…cannot be my disciple…
Now I know enough, I read enough to know about “Oriental Exaggeration” when I see it or hear it.
But he went on…”whoever does not pick up and carry his cross, cannot be my disciple… And, he wasn’t finished YET!
“Unless you renounce all that you have, even life itself, you cannot be my disciple.”
WOW!!! That’s outlandish and outrageous! A little over the top! Having a bad day, are we Jesus? Did ya get up on the wrong side of the straw mat?
And yet we get it, he is looking for: devotion, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, trueness, staunchness, steadfastness, constancy, commitment, adherence, allegiance, dedication, devoutness, fondness, love, admiration, affection, attentiveness, care, warmness and closeness.
So how “devoted” are you?
Just “what” would you put on that “Spiritual Resume?”
How “solid” is your relationship with God? Would he agree with your resume?
Amen.