How Large is Your Spiritual Gap?

Lesson #213

Intense suffering for Jesus is getting much closer and as a result one needs to think about how to interpret these verses in a context of suffering. In John 13:16, where the servant is not greater than his master and the messenger is not greater than the one who did the sending. Jesus is about to suffer for us, leaving us an example, so that we might follow in his steps. Remember, the Father sent Jesus with a message. In the setting of v16, Jesus is not greater that the Father who sent him with a message, which led to his death. Jesus as our Lord gave us the Gospel to share. We are not greater than the Lord and if we follow his example we may suffer and die also. This is happening with growing intensity in a growing number of countries. If we are not willing to share the gospel and face possible persecution with love and forgiveness, then we are taking the position of being greater than our Lord. That position of pride will result is shame when God brings us down to the humble state. I say all of this because I have a growing concern over the ignorance of the western church in regard to persecution, resulting in a lack of Biblical understanding of how to face persecution and why.

In view of what I just wrote, the next verse is quite appropriate: “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (John 13:17 ESV). I have often in the past referred to the space between what we know and what we actually live out as a “gap.” I know people in the east countries who live out what they hear as soon as they hear it. Here in the west we grow in knowledge, but live out only a small portion it. Our verse implies, the smaller the gap the greater the blessing. Consider the following verses. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21 ESV). It is possible to have knowledge and not apply it and end up in hell for an eternity of suffering. “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46 ESV). That is a good question. How many things has the Lord told you to do, but yet you don’t do them? “And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating” (Luke 12:47 ESV). What do you suppose our punishment will be? How might we be suffering today because of disobedience? “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing (James 1:25 ESV). Blessed is the one who hears and out of love for his savior and following in his steps, in obedience goes out and does what he hears.

We are at a good break point and will try to cover verses 18 through 20 in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, I pray for those who are reading these studies. I pray that the Spirit will give understanding and greatly bless those who apply what they are learning. I pray that together we will become more like our Lord and be willing to step outside our comfort zone and take some risks when obedience requires it. Father, thank you for the gift of salvation, but I am afraid we have forgotten the next verse: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 ESV). Father, you caused us to be born again for the purpose of working as your servants. Forgive us and have mercy on us for our disobedience; for our living for self and not for you.