Tag: hate father
Counting the cost!
Scripture reading for March 21: Luke 14, Psalm 58, Proverbs 27
Key Scriptures: Luke 14:25-28 “Now great crowds accompanied Him, and He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?”
Jesus was very straight-forward with the crowds of people who had followed Him and crowded around to hear His teaching. He warned them of shallow commitment. He demanded first place in the lives of those who would follow Him as disciples. Their relationship with their family and even wife and children must be second to Him. There would be a cross to bear as well! Each person must count the cost!
Faith Confession: Lord, following You is my choice. I place You in first place. You are worth any cost!
Psalm 58:11 “Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”
Jesus demands first place!
Scripture reading for March 23rd: Luke 14
Key scriptures for over-comers: Luke 14:25-27 “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them He said: “I anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be My disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.””
This teaching of Jesus appears to go against His command for all disciples to ‘love one another’. (John 15:17) But Jesus was really saying that our love for Him must surpass our love for our father or mother and even our wife and children. We must love Him more than our own life–enough to be willing to take up a cross and march with Him to death in obedience to the Father! Discipleship is not a casual pursuit! Jesus calls us into the most demanding of all relationships! It takes our whole-hearted devotion and love to be a disciple!
Observations for over-comers: It is easy to be part of a crowd traveling with Jesus but it costs total devotion to become one of His disciples! It is worth the cost! “I am the Lord; that is My Name! I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols.” (Isaiah 42:8)