It must have been tough to be a disciple of Jesus. You’re on top of the world following the Master; you get to feeling all bubbly and happy. Life is good. You’re ready to hold hands and sing Kumbaya all the way to the Pearly Gates.
Then Jesus does it, He goes into boxer mode. Yep, Jesus starts throwing the zingers at you and your glass jaw, packing more power than Mike Tyson in his prime.
Take these three Gospels passages from Luke, for example:
Right Hook:
Luke 13
“After the master of the house has risen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
And you will say,’ We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’
The he will say to you,’ I do not know where (you) are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’”
(Whoa! That hurt!)
Left Cross:
Luke 14: 11-12
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(Well, thanks Lord. That’s excellent life advice.)
“Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind…”
(There had to be a catch. Ouch!)
Upper Cut:
Luke 14:26
“If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
(Triple OUCH!!!)
Knock Out! Round 1.
What the Lord requires makes me wonder if I’m fit for His challenge.
It makes me wonder if I am worthy to take up my cross and follow him?
Can I cut the mustard to get (and stay) with Christ in His ring?
Within these passages from Luke, Jesus is saying it is not easy and it’s never going to be easy to be His disciple. The road following the Lord is going to be hard and it is going to take great dedication, focus, and trust.
Hard work is the magic.
Put the guitar away brothers and sisters, no group sing tonight. We need to get some ice for these bruises and get to work on our game. It’s time to up the stakes to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
Prayer Request
September 29 is the Feast of St. Michael, my namesake saint. If you’re a shy, husky football lineman type of a kid and your name is Michael, this prayer to your namesake can really have a huge influence on your life.
PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
My request to you is to join me in saying the Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel every day for the rest of September. The goal is to pray for defense and promotion of the peace that comes with God’s grace.
Copyright © 2013, Mike Hays
Mike Hays
Mike Hays is a husband, a father of three, a lifelong Kansan and works as a molecular microbiologist. Besides writing, he has been a high school strength and conditioning coach, a football coach and a baseball coach. His debut middle grade historical fiction novel, THE YOUNGER DAYS, is a 2012 recipient of The Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval Award. You can find it at the publisher's website or on Amazon.
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