“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17).

I wore a suit for the first time in a couple of years this past weekend. I officiated a wedding and needed to wear a suit.

Here’s what I discovered when I went to go try on my suits. Now, mind you, all my suits were custom tailored. They fit me like a glove when I had them tailored. But as I tried them on Saturday to get ready for the wedding, I realized every single one of them were too big. I’ve lost about thirty pounds since I had those suits made.

Here’s the thing: I knew for decades I needed to lose weight because of my health issues. The doctors would always tell me, “You need to lose weight.” I’ve always known that. But, knowing those things did not lead to living those things. And, I never lost weight.

So, what changed?

This is embarrassing.

A few years back, one of my doctors threatened to quit me. She told me to bring Helen to the next appointment, and at that appointment, she lit into me and told me in front of Helen, “If you’re not going to listen to what I tell you to do, go find another doctor.”

Gee!

That got my attention. So, I started walking more regularly, and I changed how I eat.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know that I needed to exercise more and change my diet. I knew that. I just didn’t do it. And I wasn’t changing.

Knowing the truths of God is fine, but we are blessed when we do what God’s word says.

Now, I need to get some new suits!

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13).

Faithfulness, steadfastness, loyalty don’t shine in comfort and plenty. These are virtues that shine most brightly and is most beautiful in conflict, affliction, scarcity, and uncertainty.

Before I go on I want to make clear that there is an exception to this rule. When one is dealing with heresy, toxic and abusive behavior, this rule does not apply. When you are in an abusive situation, get out. When there is toxic behavior, call it out. Don’t tolerate it. When there is heresy, do as Paul commands, “Hand him over to Satan.”

The word for ‘bear’ in the Greek means to hold up, bear with. It means to endure, have patience with, suffer, and persist.

Not only does ‘bear’ mean those things, it is written in the present participle. This means that bearing with one another is a never ending, on-going act. The best way to translate that would be to say something like, “Keep on bearing with one another…”

Not only are we called to keep on bearing with one another, but we are called to forgive. The Greek for ‘forgive’ is also written in the present participle.

The trait of disciples and Christ-followers in the church is the refusal to quit on each other. It is an on-going, never ending bearing with one another, forgiving each other along the way. That’s the way of the church.

And when the church demonstrates that in the midst of conflict, affliction, scarcity, and uncertainty, the love and the grace of Jesus shines brightly. The church is truly beautiful.

Let’s be a beautiful church!

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).

“Take up the cross and follow me,” said Jesus.

So, how did taking up the cross thing go for Jesus?

That doesn’t sound like much fun does it.

Jesus tells us that there are three things required for those who want to be disciples, or literally followers of Jesus:

• Deny yourself
• Take up the cross
• and Follow me

All three verbs – ‘deny’, ‘take up’, ‘follow’ – are written as imperatives. These are commands, not suggestions.

Also, these verbs are written in the aorist tense. The Greek had multiple ways to express the past tense. Aorist past tense verbs mean on-going action. So, when your child says, “I brushed my teeth,” the understanding is that not only did he brush his teeth before bed, but that he will brush his teeth again in the morning, and again in the evening. Brushing one’s teeth as a one time activity leads to cavity. Besides, that would really be disgusting.

When we think about denying oneself and taking up the cross, we imagine these things to be heroic or legendary things. That’s what super duper Christians do. Wow! Look at those super duper Christians denying themselves and taking up the cross! Wow! What studs!!!

But that’s what is wrong with us. These are not heroic or legendary things. These are normal, everyday things for disciples! This is what is expected of every single disciple who calls themselves a Christian. That we have gone away from this truth is a problem.

Every day, every moment, we are called to deny ourselves and take up the cross. This is the practice and acceptance of duties and responsibilities that we may not like. It’s not about what we may like. It’s about doing what God calls us to do.

Remember? Deny yourself. Take up the cross. So you can follow me.

Let’s get following!