But what do we mean by traditional values? This is a phrase that incites political debate and much discussion in educational circles. The fact is, to speak of traditional values is simply to speak of, what in other eras, was unashamedly referred to as Christian virtues. In a pluralistic culture, there are many pressures against speaking plainly. But we, after all, are a gathering of God’s people. Here, at least, we can speak the unvarnished truth with crystal-clarity. Let me put it to you bluntly- the values that made this land the great nation that it is are values that grew out of the spread and development of western Christianity. For example, our modern notion of human rights is not founded on some abstract principle of philosophy. Human rights are grounded in and legitimized by the fact that all men and women are made in the image of God, and are, therefore, of infinite value.

As an active duty Army chaplain, and now as a reservist, I was and still am proud to embrace the motto of the Army Chaplains Corps, Pro Deo et Patria, For God and Country. This motto suggests that we are for both God and country, but I would submit to you that it is because I am for God, that I am for my country. It is because I believe in ultimate truth, contained in God’s self-revelation in Scripture, that I believe in subsidiary truths, such as patriotism and "traditional values."

But make no mistake about this, to profess to be pro deo et patria is not to confess to be committed to two equally valuable principles. When Jesus said, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s" he did not imply that Caesar had equal claims with God. Indeed, the First and Greatest Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The principle Jesus was teaching is that one who loved God properly, and obeyed him, would also love and obey those institutions which God has ordained, such as the church, the family and human government. But you must first, and foremost, love God and honor him.

Our text today talks about commitment, commitment in its highest form. Understanding this highest form of commitment, the commitment to be a follower of Jesus, to seek first his Kingdom, teaches us about our other commitments, commitment to our spouses, to our families, to our church, and to our great land. But let us start at the beginning.

In verse 51, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. His commitment is to offer himself a sacrifice for your sins and mine. In that context, Jesus meets with three disciples, all of whom expressed a form of commitment to him. The first disciple professed a desire to follow Jesus wherever he went. This reminds us of those beautiful words of covenant loyalty from the Book of Ruth, "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." Jesus heard the words of this disciple, and challenged him with the first requirement of commitment- SELF DENIAL. The pathos in these words is powerful. "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

The Creator has no place in his own creation! No mystery here. In John’s gospel we read that he came to his own people, and his own people did not receive him. But Jesus did not allow that wholesale rejection to deter him from the cross. Instead, we are told he set his face, a Hebraic expression meaning complete resolve, towards Jerusalem and the cross. He denied his own will. In the garden he prayed for release, but nevertheless that the will of the Father be done. Jesus requires self-denial of his disciples. But as a good leader, he requires nothing of his followers he himself is unwilling to do. Thus, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even to the death on a cross.

During the Boxer Rebellion in China, 1899, the insurgents came upon a Christian mission station and school. They blocked all the gates but one. In this gate they placed a cross on the ground. Word was passed to all the students, anyone who trampled on the cross would be set free; any who refused would be shot on sight. With great fear, the first seven students walked, out deliberately trampling the cross, and were allowed to go free. But the eighth student, a young girl, refused to commit this sacrilege. Kneeling by the cross to pray for strength, she arose and moved carefully around the cross and went out to face her death. The record shows, by the way, that strengthened by her example, ninety-two remaining students likewise chose death rather than dishonor the cross.

The second disciple was less forward. He did not offer to follow Jesus, but instead was called by him to discipleship. "Lord," he replied, "Let me first go and bury my father." This request was not without significance. In Jewish culture, the death of a family member enjoined upon the survivors a period of mourning to demonstrate love for the departed. Jesus, however, laid upon him the second requirement of commitment- ABSOLUTE DEVOTION. Nothing was as important as following Christ. In light of his call, even the ordinarily appropriate relations between loved ones pale in significance.

Jesus himself exhibited this. We know that his mother and brothers were concerned about him. One gospel writer hints that they feared him to be mad! When they sought him out to take him back to Nazareth, Jesus stretched wide his arms, pointed at all around him and proclaimed, "behold my mother and my brothers." For Jesus, as important as was his family, his divine mission was even more important. And so those who would be his followers, must also value all relationships in this same light. Is there a relationship you value more than your relationship with the Lord? You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. You shall have no other gods before me.

Years ago, a young man named Adoniram Judson graduated from college and theological training. He received a call from a fashionable church in Boston to become an assistant pastor. Everyone congratulated him. His mother and sister rejoiced that he could live at home and do his life’s work. Judson, however, rejected the call. "My work is not here." he said, "God is calling me beyond the seas. To stay here, even to serve God in this ministry, I feel would be only partial obedience and I could not be happy in that." Although it cost him a great struggle, he left his family to follow the heavenly call. Today, the fashionable church in Boston still stands. But Judson’s work in Burma led to the establishment of numerous churches and over 50,000 converts. Today, among American Baptists, there is no name more revered than that of Adoniram Judson.

The third disciple volunteered to follow Jesus, providing he had the opportunity to go back to his family and bid farewell. Jesus, however, called to him to follow now, laying upon him the third challenge of commitment, WHOLEHEARTEDNESS. No man who begins to plow looks all around. Instead he picks a point in the distance, and with undistracted gaze, pursues his path to keep his furrows straight.

Jesus, tempted at many times to turn aside from his mission, nevertheless set his face towards Jerusalem. You must remember, the cross was not a surprise to Jesus. He was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. He lived his entire life under the shadow of the cross. Before his mind, at every moment, was the knowledge that his path of wholehearted obedience led to crucifixion and death. But, he also knew that the cross led to the forgiveness of our sins. And nothing could deter him from that path.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, preached an average of three sermons a day for fifty-four years, preaching all told, about 44,000 times. In doing this, he traveled by horseback and carriage more than 200,000 miles, or about 5,000 miles a year. His published works include a four-volume commentary on the whole Bible, a dictionary of the English language, a five-volume work on natural philosophy, a four volume work on church history; grammars on the Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French, and English languages; three works on medicine, six volumes of church music, seven volumes of sermons. He also edited a library of fifty volumes known as "The Christian Library."

Greatly devoted to pastoral care, he arose at 4 AM and worked solidly until 10 PM, allowing brief periods for meals. In the midst of all this work he declared, "I have more hours of private retirement than any man in England." At age 83 he was irritated to discover that he could not write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes; and at the age of 86 he was ashamed to admit he could not preach more than twice a day. Today the legacy of his wholehearted effort remains in the world-wide institution of Methodism.

Commitment. That is what discipleship requires. Self-denying, absolutely devoted, and wholeheartedly committed. That is what Jesus requires for disciples in his kingdom.

During the first World War, a young man- a barber in peacetime- enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. Soon he found himself part of the 168th Infantry of the 42nd Division, the Rainbow Division. Along with the 168th Regiment, were the 165th, formerly the 69th New York; the 166th, originally the 4th Ohio, and the 167th, the renumbered 4th Alabama. Ironically, during the Civil War, the 69th New York and 4th Alabama had fought each other at Bull Run and Fredericksburg. By virtue of its makeup, with soldiers from all sections of the country, this division was dubbed the Rainbow Division.

In July of 1918, the 42nd was committed to battle against the Germans to reduce the Marne Salient. In spite of withering machine gun fire and heavy artillery bombardment, the 168th Infantry took their objective. As the battle drew to an end, a messenger was needed to deliver an important word to one of the platoons. Private Martin A. Treptow, barber turned warrior, grabbed the message and moved out under fire. As he reached the platoon leader, Treptow was shot down by a hail of bullets. Later, in policing up Treptow’s personnel effects, a diary was found in the blood-stained blouse of this doughboy. Written in Treptow’s own hands were the words entitled, My Pledge, words that serve as a memorial to the price he paid. "America shall win the war. Therefore, I will work. I will save. I will sacrifice. I will endure. I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the whole issue of the struggle depended on my alone."

My friends, that is commitment. Imagine what our armed forces could do if they were full of men and women like Martin Treptow! What would our land be like if we had ordinary citizens as committed to the welfare of this Republic? More importantly, brothers and sisters, what would the Church of Jesus Christ accomplish if we had even a hand-full of disciples with that kind of commitment? Treptow was willing to die for a cause for which the outcome was not yet determined. Our Lord Jesus calls you and me to live, and yes, if necessary, to die for a cause that has already been resolved. The cross is not a symbol of defeat, but of victory. It was the beginning of a battle that ended three days later in total victory over death, hell, and the grave.

Today I remind you of the words of Jesus recorded for us in Scripture, "He that seeks to find his life will lose it; but he that loses his life for my sake will find it." "Take up your cross and follow me." These words remind of us of the price he paid. Jesus willingly took up his cross, committed himself as though everything depended upon him- and indeed it did. He won the victory for us and now invites us to join in the spoils of victory. Are you concerned about our land? About your church? About your own relationship with Christ? Revival begins in the hearts of God’s people- one heart at a time. Today, I invite you to consider your ways and to renew your commitment to Christ. You are no fool to give up what you cannot keep to gain that which you cannot lose. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God.