Linus’ Blanket

Everyone remembers Charlie Brown. Remember his little friend Linus? What did Linus always carry around with him? His blanket. You hardly ever saw Linus in a Charlie Brown cartoon without his “security” blanket.
When you travel, what item do you always have to take with you? For me, it’s my computer or a book. Even if I don’t ever touch them while I am gone, I always take comfort in knowing it is there if I need to get in touch with someone or escape to a quiet place. After Jesus had died and risen, he was traveling through towns on his way to Jerusalem just before He ascended into heaven. Luke Chapter 9 talks about this in detail, but if we look in verses 51-62, we see where Jesus is talking about the comforts of life. What exactly was He talking about? Our lives can become so comfortable, our houses so safe to us, that we leave no room for Jesus in those and many other parts of our lives. How can we call that comfortable?
Many of us have said that we would follow Jesus. Many of us have “sacrificed” things in our lives to follow them. But, what have we “really” sacrificed? Have we dropped our “security blankets” for Him? In verses 59 and 60, someone comes to Jesus and says he will follow, but throws a stipulation on it first. Sometimes as fathers and husbands, we hide behind our families and use them as a security blanket to shy away from doing what Christ wants us to. Have you ever felt pressure from your family to slow down on your commitment? What does Christ mean by “total” commitment when it comes to our family? I know that it doesn’t mean totally shutting them out. I have seen pastors, for example, completely ruin their families because they were not taking care of them.
Outside of the family, what other sacrifice is there? Leaders emerge when they are asked to sacrifice by serving in areas that are “beneath” them or outside their comfort zone. True friendship to others and loyalty to Christ are exemplified when it costs something. Ever helped someone at 1 am when they needed you? Or did you head back to bed? In our society, that is America specifically, sacrifice is hard to understand. It’s a foreign concept to a generation of “me” or “#1.” Think about this: when are you most tempted to quit following Christ and run back to the security of your “blanket?”
Half hearted sacrifice takes no risky steps of faith.

-Jeremiah McBride

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