Week 16 (Download)
Trained

“but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40

This week, the passage in Luke reminds us of the revolutionary changes that Jesus brought through His teaching and the power of knowing God that was depicted in His life.  These changes, while impacting the way we live, pointed deeper than our actions and legal obedience; they pierced into the very heart and soul of mankind.  The heart where God alone can see and understand.  The inner part of a person is built through life’s experiences, DNA, cultural pressures and personal desires.  It’s within this crossroad of “who” we are that God request to be Lord.  If we are not diligent in our reading and study of God’s precious Word we can often miss the deeper meaning.  It is often easy to read these verses of the Mini Sermon on the mount also called “the sermon of the plain” of blessing and woes and see them as either judgment toward the religious or as some Confucius sayings for living.  The matter at hand is the place in which we build our lives.  As Pastor Matt has mentioned, we can beat up on the poor Pharisees who appear as judgmental religious zealots who loved their position of authority rather than the God whom they serve. All of their obedience neatly packaged in the Law. But one should note that this sect was one of deep discipline and sacrifice.  Unlike the Sadducees, these were not members of the tribe of Levi who were called by the Law to be priest rather they volunteered and gave up their earthly possessions to serve the Law of their fathers.  Pathetically, over centuries of disobedience the Jews created a tapestry of the Law from the scriptures tightly woven with the traditions of men.  The behavior of discipline became benign to the relationship with God.  Sinful man once again became his own ruler, ruler of a religion!  Jesus turned the spotlight away from the actions of the person and turned it to the relationship of the heart.  Jeremiah stated that the heart was deceitful above all [things,] And desperately wicked; Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)  The answer is that God knows the heart and Jesus came to reclaim it! 

Now, when I hear the word training my mind naturally takes me to animals and specifically dogs.  A dog is trained by good or bad impulses or rewards created to produce a behavior pattern desired by the trainer.  A good performance and the trainer will give the dog a treat. Conversely a bad action will result in a “correction”, a whack with a newspaper.  Of course there is much debate on the ratio of good to bad rewards and I will choose to stay out of that debate.  Sadly, I have taken this view of training into my relationship with God.  God is not a dog trainer.  His holiness is wrapped in perfect love and while we as disobedient children will need chastised His desire is to live within our hearts.  God desires so much more than programmed actions.  We should love and give and forgive not expecting rewards but because of Christ in us.  The Christian life of obedience to God and the teachings of Christ should not be life of burden and hardship but rather a life of gratitude.  Gratitude to Jesus Christ who took our punishment and shame and gave us new life.   Not likened to our old life that was a burden unto sin to be replaced with a burden of righteousness but rather a life of FREEDOM expressed in a heart that is fully in love with God.  Isn’t that what Jesus reflected.   Jesus was a joyful servant whose focus was always on the Father.  Yes, we as His creation were often the recipient of Jesus love and affections but it was the Father that was His focus, His life, and His adoration.  The Kingdom that Jesus came to bring is not yet what it will be when He returns to this earth and rules on the Throne of David but it is real in the hearts of the people who are called by His name.  The rule is not physically but it is spiritual and emotional as we get off of the throne of our lives and allow Jesus to be LORD. The changes that are seen in our actions are not our own but they are His.  Blessed is the person who is transformed inside out and changed not as an animal but as a child of God.  Jesus looked with love upon His disciples and stated I no longer call you may servants but rather my friend.  (John 15:15)  And in doing so He declared that He would make known the will of the Father. 

Do not be a servant of Christ but rather serve Him as a friend!

Reflection and Group discussion:

Discuss what the word “training” brings to your mind regarding the Christian life

How can we be trained like Christ?

Do you feel that you are Christ friend or servant?  What about God the Father and God the Holy Spirit?

How do you know it is God ruling your heart?

Can you share an event in your life where your sharing the love of Christ seemed effortless?

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