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Every year it happens, a sports team rises out of nowhere to success and all of the sudden their logos are everywhere! The Cubs finally start winning and all of the sudden people I’ve never seen with anything Cubs related, sport a Cubs’ tee-shirt and cap. They’re fakes, only jumping on the Cubs success for what they can get out of it. The real fans, the ones who’ve persevered for years, are the ones who truly enjoy the great season.
As Palm Sunday approaches, anyone who’s ever been to church knows what “Palm Sunday” is about. All four gospels record what is called the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, just five days before His death on the cross. The Bible says that people ran out to meet Jesus, they lined the streets with branches and the sides of houses with linens and material…all in an effort to beautify the path of the King. They worshipped Him, in fact, the whole City knew that something big was happening. Their King had arrived, a fulfillment of prophecy. They were thinking “Yeah! I’m on the winning team.”
THEN, within five day’s time, things went downhill quickly. The religious leaders conspired against Jesus, convincing Rome that Jesus was a threat to peace. All of the sudden those worshippers throughout the city are found yelling “kill him, crucify him,” or they were just absent, hiding in the midst of turmoil. But, wait…where was everyone? They were just worshipping Him, and now they are just gone? What happened?
I wonder how many of us who are found worshipping in North American churches on a Sunday morning are no different than the “Palm Sunday” worshippers. How many of us are band-wagon fans that only sing to Jesus, worship Him, raise our hands, for what WE get out of it? Do we worship because it makes us “feel” better, or we need to re-charge, or we just need to experience God? I’m sorry to be the one to say it, but that’s not worship. No, in fact that’s a form of pride. (Man, this is hitting me hard too). What happens when worshipping Jesus Christ means that we are all alone, abandoned, persecuted? What happens when you get nothing out of it, other than trials and tough times? Will you run and hide, will you switch your loyalty when the going gets tough? See, worship is easy when we get something out of it and it makes us feel better. It’s hard when the immediate result is difficulty because we identify with Jesus, and the only payoff is eternal. I think this is why Jesus calls the road to follow him “narrow,” because it’s not easy to be a real fan of Jesus. I can’t help but wonder how many who worship Him on Sundays are really on the narrow road of Christ “followship.” Can I ask that you would join me in seeking God with all we have, no matter the cost? We need to pray that God through the Holy Spirit would give us the courage, strength, conviction, and perseverance to follow Him wherever that might lead.
~Brett Larson

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