Tag: Luke 14:25-27
Killing selfish ‘giants’!
Scripture reading for March 21st: Joshua 15-18, Luke 14
Key Scriptures: Luke 14:25-27 “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, yeas, 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.”
Jesus attracted great crowds but He did not want anyone following Him that had not truly counted the cost. Following Jesus is a costly pursuit. It could cost all relationships, for God must be put over all others. It could even cost a person their life. The willingness to die was in the metaphor of carrying a cross while following. This idea would come into focus as Jesus carried His!
Joshua 15:13 “According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak. And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, . . “
Prayer: Lord, thank You for being the ultimate example for us to follow. May we bring You joy as we place You first above all else. Amen.
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)