Outside the Camp: Fully Committed to Christ
By Dean Collins
What camp are you in? Sometimes this might just mean your preference:
iPhone or Android?
Physical books or digital?
Beach or mountains?
While some may have strong opinions on technology or vacation preferences, these topics likely won’t limit friendships or create significant division in your family relationships.
But which camp you are in in other contexts becomes fighting words or worse, ends relationships. For instance, I found out long ago that you can’t be neutral about your football team in the state of Alabama! For some, this is just fun, and for others, your choice may make you a genuine enemy. It used to be that being a Democrat or Republican was mostly a matter of what family or state you were born in, but in recent years your political party has become a line in the sand. How you answer might determine if you are viewed as ignorant or even evil.
In Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples: “Who do people say I am?” There were people in different camps according to the various answers. Some said Jesus was John the Baptist, some Elijah, others thought he was one of the prophets. Jesus pushed in on the disciples and asked, “What about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter declared his camp: “You are the Christ.” Jesus followed Peter’s answer with a clear and direct description of one who believes that he is the Christ: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Jesus indicated that if you are in his camp, you must be all in.
The author of Hebrews wrote in the last chapter of the book that Jesus suffered “outside the gate” of Jerusalem where he bore our sin and shame on the cross. We know his suffering was not an accident or forced upon him. Jesus chose to go to the cross because of our need and the world’s need of redemption and restoration. Right after we read about the suffering of Jesus outside the gate, Hebrews says this to us:
“Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.”
If we declare that we are in the camp of those who declare Jesus is the Christ, then like Jesus we must move toward the people and the places where Jesus calls us to serve. That place will include sacrifice, and even suffering, for the need and the good of others in need.
So today, Jesus, we declare that you are the Christ. Increase our courage and our faith to go outside the camp to those in need. Use us today for your kingdom purposes and for your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Mark 8:27-29, 34-38, 10:35-45; Hebrews 13:12-16 ESV
Photo by Pexels
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