25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.
28-30 “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’
31-32 “Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?33 “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.
These are radical words designed to set us free from that which really destroys the joy of living - luke warm religion. To play with religion is worse than no religion at all. To want a little bit of God, but not enough to make us have to change our ways, is worse then having no God at all. At least then we are honest!
Jesus is not advocating that we ‘hate’ in his name. He is advocating that we place first things first - and that means discipleship! Loving God with all our being.
These words were spoken at a time when Jesus was popular. As such, they were designed to shatter the illusion that discipleship is a mass movement. Jesus would have us go where we don’t want to go and do what we don’t want to do. Many drop out. There are times when to be near Jesus is the most dangerous place to be.
Prayer thought for the week: “Lord, give me the courage to go where I don’t want to go, and the strength to do what I don’t want to do, as your Disciple.”
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