Scripture - Luke 14:25-33 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Observation - Jesus is teaching the disciples the cost of following him. I have seen many use the first part of this scripture to say that if you follow Christ you must literally hate your family. What is being said upon further research is that; to follow Christ you must love your family less. Christ is telling the crowd and the multitude that you mist place your primary affection on Him. He will not come second - only first. He goes on to explain that even people in the world know what it costs to build or to go to war - they know the last dollar and the last soldier that they will pay for their victory - do we understand what it takes to follow Him. Have we truly stopped to look at the cost and then decide to pay it willingly?
Application - Serving Jesus is not free. It comes at a cost - the cost was paid by Jesus to allow us the opportunity to serve Him. But there is a cost on our side as well. We must give everything to serve Him. I was thinking about this 21 days of fasting and how this is a true symbol of laying it all down to serve Christ. To not eat or limit our food intake for 21 days to focus our attention an prayer and communicating with God - Jesus is truly being worshiped. He is the focus of our attention - we must live a fasted lifestyle the remained of the year. Laying it All down for Him.
Prayer - Father, help me to live fasted - a lifestyle that is totally dedicated to you and your desire for my life.
Application - Serving Jesus is not free. It comes at a cost - the cost was paid by Jesus to allow us the opportunity to serve Him. But there is a cost on our side as well. We must give everything to serve Him. I was thinking about this 21 days of fasting and how this is a true symbol of laying it all down to serve Christ. To not eat or limit our food intake for 21 days to focus our attention an prayer and communicating with God - Jesus is truly being worshiped. He is the focus of our attention - we must live a fasted lifestyle the remained of the year. Laying it All down for Him.
Prayer - Father, help me to live fasted - a lifestyle that is totally dedicated to you and your desire for my life.
