Set Your Sight on Higher Ground
Matthew 5:1 & 2 “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, …”
Crowds always collect around events and individuals that are curious or exciting. Jesus was all that and more, and so naturally His ministry drew large crowds. We read in Mat 4:24 & 25 “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.” But He knew that crowds are fickle. So when He saw His ministry attracting large crowds — He climbed a hillside.
This was a decisive movement upward; an intentional maneuver made to root out those who were only looking for the easy way, the free ride. And as the Lord expected, the crowd dispersed. You see, crowds don’t climb hillsides.
What happened next is what the Lord was after all along. Those who were committed climbed with Him. Is that you? When the crowds fade away, and following Jesus is no longer the popular thing to do, or the easy thing to do — will you still be His climbing companion? If so, He will take you to the summit!
What did Jesus teach them there on the summit? He delivered the “Sermon on the Mount!” He spoke on The Beatitudes, the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World, He as Lord fulfilling the Law, Anger, Lust, Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation, Love your enemies, Giving to the needy, the Lord’s Prayer, Fasting, Treasures in heaven, Anxiety, Judging others, Asking and Receiving, the Golden Rule, a Tree and its Fruit, Really knowing Jesus, Building your house on the Rock and the Authority of Jesus. In short, He taught those with Him the life as a child of God. Please read Mat 5 to 7. There were many following Him for what He could do for them; healing, providing, deliverance and so forth. Few were willing to put in an effort to really receive His teachings and guidelines.
Really following Jesus is going to cost you. You will have to pay the price. You will need to put in an effort. Please read Luke chapter 14 verse 25 to 33. Verse 28 says: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
The scripture tells us that we are “partakers of a heavenly calling” Heb 3:1 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” It is “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” Php 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” It is the call of God upon our lives that makes mediocrity unacceptable. I do not and will not follow the crowd any more. The word mediocrity literally means “halfway up a mountain.”
Are you going to settle for only following Christ halfway? I didn’t think so.
Set your sight for higher ground, my friend. And the Kingdom, the Authority of Jesus Christ will be your next stop.
“Lord Jesus, from today I shall not follow the crowds any more, I shall follow only You. I shall climb the mountain with You to receive Your teachings. Please strengthen me and keep my eyes on the high ground and calling. I calculated the cost for following You and is willing to pay the price. Amen.”