Access To The Axis
Make Jesus the center of your life, pick up your cross daily, and carry forward the message that the kingdom of heaven has come near.
“David inquired of the Lord. “Shall I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” he asked. The Lord said, “Go up.” David asked, “Where shall I go?” “To Hebron,” the Lord answered…they anointed David king over the tribe of Judah. Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.” “All right, let them do it,” Joab said. The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated by David’s men. Now Asahel was as fleet-footed as a wild gazelle. He chased Abner, Abner looked behind him and asked, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” he answered. Again Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me! Why should I strike you down? Asahel refused to give up the pursuit; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Asahel’s stomach…Joab and Abishai pursued Abner…Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt” 2 Samuel 2:1-28
There is a way that seems right that ends in death. Often the little decision decisions that we allow lead to destruction. Look at the difference between David and Joab. David made his decisions by seeking God and obeying what He said. Joab casually allowed a little conflict. The little conflict led to an avoidable casualty. He blessed the little brawl that led to his brother’s death.
What stopped the battle? When Abner blew the trumpet and the people realized that the path they were on would only lead to more needless harm. How does this relate to our lives today? Are you building in patterns to intentionally listen to God and be centered in Christ? Or are you listening to pride, the world around you, and living without being led? Are you letting God’s word light your path? Is His presence your lamp?
“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. I will not neglect your word. I am a stranger on earth; I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. I will walk about in freedom, I have considered my ways …You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn…Your hands made me and formed me; May your unfailing love be my comfort, May I wholeheartedly follow…Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; Save me, for I am yours; Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word…I love your commands more than gold, Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me. You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right. Yet you are near, Lord, Let me live that I may praise you” Psalms 119:1-175
Have you ever stood in line, a really long line to get to a special event? Have you ever waited with anticipation for something wonderful? Imagine that today you had an opportunity to sit with Jesus or spend time in an audience listening to King David in person. Imagine that you could spend time with him and listen to his words. How much time would you spend talking? What would you ask? What would he say?
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm. One could read it 1000 times and not fully receive all the words of life hidden within it. David was chosen because he was a man after God’s own heart and he revealed his heart in this song. What stands out to you from listening to his lecture?
David did not take his relationship with God lightly. What do we see in David's heart? He pursued God actively and intentionally. He had a heart to learn, grow, seek, store, obey, and honor God. Is it any wonder that God used David in such mighty ways? He had a heart fully devoted and willing to be disciplined. Is that your heart?
In the midst of the song, David said a very interesting statement and it reveals so much about his heart. He says I am a stranger on this earth. This is not my home. He sees his home as in heaven so he does not live for his earthly home. Are you like David and a stranger on earth? Or have you settled in and happy to inhabit the Earth over heaven? The lives we live on this planet are not permanent. This is not our forever home.
David ends with a simple message. He says yet you are near Lord. One of the most profound truths that can transform how we live is that the God who created the heavens and earth personally pursues each of us. It is the nearness of God not necessarily the vastness that might be the most surprising. We can acknowledge that God is Almighty, but do we acknowledge Him daily?
“Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, Stay away from a fool, There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure. It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, blessed is the one who is kind to the needy…those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” Proverbs 14:2-31
Solomon describes two very distinct paths. One path is centered in God and lives to please Him. The other follows the patterns of the world. There is a strong connection between this proverb and our psalm. Perspective matters. The fear of the Lord is present in both and shapes which path one takes.
In Samuel, Abner tried to warn those who were set on continuing to fight. He said in the end, will this not lead to more destruction? Solomon said the same thing. He said there’s a path that seems right that leads to death. How does that relate to us? Do we not have to make thousands of daily decisions about whether we will follow Jesus fully?
Solomon says the fear of the Lord is a fountain and as we know Christ is the living water. As we reshape our perspectives on what is important we will receive the power to love perfectly and pour out love to others. Solomon said this will be seen by how we care for the needy and serve others. Does that not sound like what Jesus did and does?
“All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.” Isaiah 18:3
Long before Jesus came, Isaiah declared the truth that there will be a banner that will be raised that all will see that points to God. He says that when the trumpet sounds, you will hear it. Jesus is the banner and His words louder than any trumpet.
Think about the connection to Abner blowing the trumpet to stop fighting each other. Think of how that relates to Jesus and His declaration that the world will recognize those who love Him by whether they put into practice what they hear. The question is not whether you have seen God move nor whether you have heard words of truth. The question is how you will respond to the love of Jesus. Will you make Jesus the center of your life and choose to serve Him by picking up your cross daily?
“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:1-39
Are you casual about following Christ? Is Jesus Christ the center of your life? Do His words of the full authority or are you picking and choosing how you will follow? Nothing about picking up your cross is casual.
Jesus called His disciples and gave them authority to declare a message. He said go tell the world that the kingdom of heaven has come near. He did not say that it might come near. He said it has come near. The time is now. Jesus has come. This is the approved message. Go tell the world the kingdom has come near. Is this the message that you are sharing each day?
Jesus said stop caring about all the things the world cares about. He says your father in heaven cares for you and knows all you need so stop letting the fear of not being cared for override the fear of the Lord. He said that if you acknowledge me before others, I will acknowledge you before the father. Will your words, actions, and attitude, acknowledge that Jesus is the center of your life?
Jesus used the word worthy when describing His followers. This word can get easily distorted by the English language, but in the Greek, it is the word axios. It means the center. The axis is the center that everything else revolves around.
Jesus is saying that He is to be the center of your life. This passage makes so much more sense when you think in these terms. He is saying that if you let the words or opinions of others have more weight than my words than I am not the center of your life. Axis is a comparative term. He wants us to compare who has authority in our lives. Jesus is not trying to get us to dishonor our families. He is calling us to a life of devotion to God like David.
Every time we let our own desires get in the way of doing God’s will, we are pushing Christ away from being the center. Every time we gossip rather than give thanks, we push Jesus away from being the center. Every time we curse others rather than bring the peace of Christ, we push Jesus away from the center. Where do you need to re-center? Where have you gotten out of balance in your life?
There is a cost to following Jesus. He says pick up your cross daily. Lay down your life and you will find it. Have you picked up your cross today? Are you willing to sacrifice and serve? Many people say they love Jesus, but love is shown in how you live out the life of faith.
Let us bring our hearts back to Him. Let us make Him the center out of which everything flows. Put Him on the throne of your heart. Lay down control and let the gift He gave us of the Holy Spirit guide us like David did with the word as a lamp unto his feet. Jesus is the light of the world and the one who lights up our path as we follow. As Mark Batterson says Jesus is bigger than big and closer than close. He is so near that He speaks with a whisper that we might listen and praise Him with our lives.