ARE YE ABLE? SAID THE MASTER

Earl Marlatt, 1892–1976

Can you drink the cup I am going to drink? (Matthew 20:22)

A Christian is a person who, when getting to the end of his/her rope, ties a knot and determines to hang on, realizing that human extremity now becomes God’s opportunity.
—Unknown

The mission for each Christian is to proclaim and live the good news of the gospel and to urge individuals everywhere to be converted—to experience a personal reconciliation and relationship with God. This persuasion must always be done with openness and honesty. In our desire to have people make a decision for Christ, we must always be forthright with them. We cannot conceal the cost of discipleship involved in receiving God’s provision of salvation. And we must tell them of the importance of giving Jesus Christ His rightful place in every area of life and of becoming an active member of the believing community.

Earl Marlatt, a professor of religion at Boston University and later at Southern Methodist University, wrote this text in 1925 for a consecration service at the Boston University School of Religious Education. It was based on Christ’s pointed question to His disciples in Matthew 20:22: “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. The hymn was originally titled “Challenge.” And still today, as in generations past, “heroic spirits answer, ‘Lord, we are able.’ ”

“Are ye able,” said the Master, “to be crucified with Me?” “Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered, “To the death we follow Thee:”

“Are ye able” to remember, when a thief lifts up his eyes, that his pardoned soul is worthy of a place in paradise?

“Are ye able?” still the Master whispers down eternity, and heroic spirits answer now as then in Galilee:

Chorus: “Lord, we are able”—our spirits are Thine; remold them—make us like Thee, divine: Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Are we sometimes at fault for giving the illusion to non-Christians that becoming a follower of Christ is the end of all of life’s difficulties? Should we not tell them about the cost of life-long discipleship? Seek to engage someone in conversation about the characteristics of true Christianity. Sing this truth as you go—

For Today: Ecclesiastes 12:7; Mark 10:35–40; Luke 14:27; 23:39–43; John 12:2

Osbeck, K. W.

• And dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God that gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
• Then James and John the sons of Zebedee came unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us that we desire. And he said unto them, What would ye I should do for you? And they said unto him, Grant unto us, that we may sit, one at thy right hand and the other at thy left hand in thy glory. But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Can ye drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism that I shall be baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. But Jesus said unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of the cup that I shall drink of, and be baptized with the baptism wherewith I shall be baptized: But to sit at my right hand and at my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. Mark 10:35–40
• And whosoever beareth not his cross, and cometh after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
• And one of the evildoers, which were hanged, railed on him, saying, If thou be that Christ, sae thyself and us. But the other answered, and rebuked him, saying, Fearest thou not God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? We are indeed righteously here: for we receive things worthy of that we have done: but this man hath done nothing amiss. Abnd he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom. Then Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Luke 23:39–43
• There they made him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. John 12:2