Seven times in Genesis 1 we are told God looked at what He created and called it “good.” “Every one of God’s creative acts was perfect, complete, pleasing, satisfying” (The Wycliffe Bible Commentary). This was the environment God wanted us to live in. He knew we would thrive in it.

In Mark 7:37 the crowds, as they observed Jesus, “were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well’.”

There is something very Godlike in doing things well and excellently. When God implanted the divine nature in us (II Peter 1:4) the DNA of doing things well was embedded in us. It is something we need to pursue living out. Yet there comes a point when striving for excellence becomes distorted and toxic.

• Striving for excellence becomes toxic to my soul when I see it as the standard I must attain for God’s acceptance and love. This is when I need to remind myself of Brennan Manning’s life message, “God loves me just as I am, not as I should be.”
• Excellence becomes a poison in my relationships when it becomes my criteria for accepting and loving you. I need to remember to love you just as God loves me…just as you are, not as you should be.
• Excellence is a useless antidote when I use it to cover my shame. Striving for a flawless exterior does not remedy the mess I see inside myself. Only a redemptive act can deal with my shame.

I’m curious – how would you add to this list? Post a comment or connect with me via email.

 

     My friend Steve Kammer posted a great comment on my last blog post. In reference to Luke 9:23, “take up your cross and follow me,” I mentioned that taking up our cross was representative of being on a one way journey. Steve wrote this comment, “Death would have been a more weighty note to the people watching the event than just the fact that the journey was one way.” I am confident that this was part of the crowds thinking. When they saw a criminal carrying a cross, they knew it was a one-way journey to death. It had never ended any other way.

For us as believers it is still a one-way journey, but the outcome is radically different…it ends in a totally different way. For us it is a one-way journey to life! “I have come that you may have life…” “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “He who has the son has life.”

When Jesus asks us to follow him, it is an invitation to life. This is what makes Luke 9:23 not just a fantastic verse, but an invitation into a fantastic experience.

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Luke 9:23 is a fairly well known verse. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Well known, but not well liked — at least for me. It laid down conditions for being a follower of Jesus that were not very attractive. Deny myself. Take up my cross. Oh okay – not too many ski lift tickets, no table saw, no touch screen. And for sure, no relaxing fun – after all, crosses are really heavy, sweaty, exhausting things to carry. And since it is for Jesus, it doesn’t feel right taking a day off from denying myself and to put down the cross. Drudgery – here I come, but I am doing it for you Jesus.

But then I learned to read this through the lens of the gospel. It changed everything.  This is a good news verse. Let’s look.

First, Jesus tells me to “deny” myself. My initial interpretation of this always leans toward asceticism, austerity, starkness – interpreted meaning my life is going to be filled with unmet desires, boredom and rather drab. And jealousy of those who don’t deny themselves. The good news is that it does not mean this. The Greek word arneomai means “refuse to follow.” Who do I refuse to follow? Myself. Stop being independent…because if I am my life will be filled with unmet desires. It will be drab. Boring. A disappointment. I will be like the prodigal son who thought independence offered the perfect life. God knows what is more fulfilling for me than I do. Okay – so denying myself is really a good thing.

But then Jesus says “take up your cross.”  Movies always show the cross-beam as unbelievably heavy. A huge burden. Why would he be telling me here to carry a heavy burden if in Matthew 11:30 Jesus tells me his burden is light? Which is it?

I need to understand “take up your cross” the way the original audience did. To the original hearers, seeing an individual carrying their cross meant that person was on a one-way journey. And the imagery also included a pathway lined with crowds jeering and criticizing the soon to be crucified criminal.

Lastly Jesus says “follow me.” Why would Jesus say this to me? I think it’s because he wants me to be with him. And maybe even more significantly, he wants to be with me! Jesus wants me to experience an incredibly precious relationship.

Putting all this together – what do I hear Jesus saying? For me it sounds like this; “Don’t be fooled into thinking you independently know what is most fulfilling for you. Instead, come on a one way journey with me and don’t let those who criticize you cause you to turn around. Follow me because I want you to be with me, and I want to be with you. And in this relationship of ours, you will find life just as the Father and I have planned it for you – and nothing could be better.”

To take up my cross is to be rescued from the emptiest and most unfilled life I could live and it is an invitation to unlock the best ever! Luke 9:23 is a good news verse.