Sorry that other necessary events have prevented an earlier denouement of this short series. The necessity also has an important corollary result for each disciple.
The payment of the half shekel, about 1/5 of an ounce of silver, demanded in Exodus 30:13-16 for tabernacle maintenance, offered a symbol of the Self-Denial Jesus commanded as essential to Christian discipleship. Sinners can become church members without it. They can hold church offices without it. They can be preachers without it. But only Self-Denial qualifies individuals to be Christ’s disciples Matthew 16:24-25. Now…a corollary of becoming and being such a person produces two very great benefits-in brief. First, the discipline necessary to become and remain that kind of follower of Jesus has positive effects that:
Second, it delights in being a continuation of what Jesus perfectly modeled—using difficulties, sorrows and sufferings—as the means of spiritual conquest, not defeat. An idea strange to that culture, and stranger to our Christian culture, which sees only Joy, Celebration, Victory as proofs of Christianity. Hebrews 2:10-18 relates to Biblical truth. The Holy Spirit empowers us to do our duty as willingly as we do our pleasures. Empowers us to remain patient and positive when life gets mean with us. Empowers us to endure adversity as easily as we enjoy victories. Indeed, in Kipling’s words, “If you can meet both Triumph and Disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same,” we will not only be mature people, but more Christ-like than we have ever been. And that will be our greatest success ever! Fini
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