GBI PRJ (CK7)

Kita mungkin sering mendengar istilah 'bayar harga' dalam kekristenan kita. Namun, sungguhkah kita mengetahui, bahkan menyadari maknanya? Hal itu bukan berarti sekadar materi, walau mungkin juga ada sedikit kaitannya, tetapi lebih pada tiga hal utama berikut ini, yaitu:

• Menyangkal diri
• Memikul salib setiap hari, dan
• Mengikut kehendak Tuhan

Markus 8:34 (FAYH), "Kemudian Ia memanggil murid-murid-Nya dan orang banyak supaya datang dan mendengarkan. 'Siapa yang ingin menjadi pengikut-Ku, harus mengesampingkan kesenangan pribadi, lalu memikul salib serta mengikut Aku,' kata-Nya kepada mereka."

And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]. (AMP)

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. (MSG)

Memang tidak mudah, tidak akan pernah mudah. Dan walaupun kita tak menghadapi apa yang mungkin pernah dihadapi, serta dilalui oleh para pendahulu kita—para martir (yang rela mati demi mempertahankan iman dalam Tuhan Yesus dengan berbagai cara hukuman), maupun murid-murid yang pertama, dan lainnya—namun pasti ada 'harga-harga' yang harus kita bayar dalam mengikut Dia, memilih untuk mengikuti Tuhan Yesus sebagai orang yang percaya pada-Nya.

Apakah motivasi kita dalam melayani, mengasihi orang-orang itu dengan tulus?

Bagaimana cara kita mengelola sumber berkat maupun talenta yang Allah percayakan—apakah dengan baik?

Seperti apa sikap hati kita dalam menjalani pergumulan, penderitaan, permasalahan dalam hidup kita sehari-hari?

Lukas 12:48 (BSD), "Tetapi, mungkin ada pelayan yang tidak tahu kemauan tuannya dan melakukan sesuatu yang salah sehingga harus dihukum. Nah, pelayan seperti itu memang akan dihukum, tetapi, hukumannya ringan. Sebab, kalau orang sudah menerima banyak dari Allah, Allah juga mengharapkan banyak dari orang itu. Dan kalau orang sudah menerima lebih banyak dari Allah, Allah juga akan menuntut lebih banyak lagi dari dia."

But every servant who did not know what his master wanted him to do, and who did things for which he deserved to be punished, will be beaten lightly {the master will beat lightly every servant who did not know what his master wanted him to do and did the things for which he deserved that his master would beat him}. God will treat his people similarly, because he expects a lot from those people whom he has allowed to understand a lot. People who entrust things to others' care expect those people to care for those things very well. Similarly, God expects a lot from those people whom he has allowed to understand a lot. Furthermore, he expects the most from people to whom he has given the most ability. (DEIBLER)

But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he'll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities! (MSG)

~ FG