Do You Realise What You’ve Just Done?

I think it was Frank Viola that turned me onto the works of T. Austin-Sparks (TAS). For those who don’t know Viola is follower of Jesus (always a good start) who is passionate about believers recognising and embracing the Eternal Purpose of God in Christ Jesus (good part as well, he’s alright so far is our Viola). He’s also known in certain circles for his work on living and promoting the organic expression of church which is rooted on getting back to what church should be as opposed to how its been somewhat disfigured in places.

In any case, I read a number of Viola’s books last year – good reads to, they really messed me up on the whole church deal, which was good, because I needed messing up so that I could see how God arranges a clean up. In and among his good stuff Viola turned me onto TAS (that’s not Taz people, so don’t go thinking of a dervish kinda creature!) TAS is all about the sovereignty and supremacy of Jesus Christ. That is what the man is consumed with and as with the works of some other dead guys like Keith Green and Ray Stedman, I’ve been tremendously blessed by the works he’s put together to encourage the Body of Christ to recognise what it is to be the Body of Christ focussed on … get this … Christ. (Amazing that isn’t it – a church that does what it says on the tin!)

As a result of me appreciating TAS I subscribed to the daily devotionals done based on his work called Open Windows – I don’t subscribe to any and every daily devotional because I know I won’t read it properly which is a waste of me email space and real time. So I get Open Windows and you know how it goes with daily devotionals – some of them are like reading page 17 of the local newspaper … put it this way, do you remember what was on page 17 of your local newspaper? My point exactly! On other occasions the daily devotional can hit the spot like no other – and this was such an occasion.

I only read the scripture reference for today’s Open Window. Seriously I read no further than that – I just read the scripture reference. By all means read the whole thought based on it, cos TAS is truly an inspired by God. So I won’t spoil the deal by talking about the scripture reference, here’s what it was,

The disciples came to Him and asked, “Do You realize You offended the Pharisees by what You just said?” Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by My heavenly Father will be uprooted.” (Matthew 15:12,13 NLT)

What particularly struck me about this verse was the approach the disciples gave to Jesus. Do you realise what you’ve done, Teacher? You’ve only gone and offended the most important people in our community. You’ve only just gone and cheesed off the most influential thinkers of our day. They are only the people who have mapped out religious observance for the masses for years.

It made me laugh. Also reminded me of what I’d written a few months ago whilst looking at that scripture in particular. I mean Jesus’ response is explosive in itself, but just take a minute a realise a consequence of your actions when you decide to take up your cross and follow Him. Do you realise what you’ve done?

Do you realise how many people will consider you odd, eccentric, old-fashioned, out of touch, liberal heretic, conservative bore, socially inept, politically poisonous, culturally contemptible?

Do you realise that your steps will alienate you from family and friends and people will misunderstand you and persecute you, reject you and leave you to rot in misery if left to them?