Commentary & Meditation on todays Gospel Luke 14:25-33. Wednesday 5th November, 2014. Gospel of Luke 14:25-33. What does it means to denounce all your possession? Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” Meditation: What does Christianity have to offer thats worth giving up everything else for, including ones own life? More than we can fathom! Jesus offered his disciples a priceless treasure-- true happiness, peace, and joy unending with the everlasting Father in his heavenly kingdom. And what does it cost to be a disciple of so generous a Lord who wishes to share everything he has with his beloved disciples? Jesus was utterly honest and spared no words to tell his disciples that it would cost them dearly to follow after him. To gain all, one must be willing to give all. There can be no room for compromise or concession with God. We either give our lives over to him completely or we keep them for ourselves. Paul the Apostle says, We are not our own. We were bought with a price ( 1 Cor. 6:19b,20). That price is the blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. Is your life given over to God? Why does Jesus say we must hate our families and even ourselves? The expression to hate often meant to prefer less. Jesus used strong language to make clear that nothing should take precedence or first place in our lives over God. Jesus knew that the way of the cross was the Fathers way to glory and victory over sin and death. He counted the cost and said yes to his Fathers will. We, too, must count the cost and be ready to follow Jesus in the way of the cross if we want to share in his glory and victory. What is the way of the cross for you and for me? When my will crosses with Gods will, then his will must be done. The way of the cross involves sacrifice, the sacrifice of laying down my life each and every day for Jesus sake. What makes such sacrifice possible and sweet for us is the love of God poured out for us in the blood of Jesus Christ. Paul the Apostle reminds us that Gods love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit(Romans 5:5). We can never outgive God. He always gives us more than we can expect or imagine. Do you allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the love of God? The love of God compels us to choose who or what will be first in our lives. To place any relationship or any possession above God is a form of idolatry. Jesus challenges his disciples to examine who they love first. Jesus way to glory and power is opposite the worlds way of glory and power. The choice is ours, but the Lord does not leave us alone if we choose to follow him. Does the love of Christ compel you to put God first in all you do (see 2 Cor. 5)? Lord, may your love consume me and transform my life that I may truly desire nothing more than life with you. Help me to count the cost and to joyfully embrace the cross for your sake.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 15:31:02 +0000
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