Today we’ll read Numbers 19, Luke 14 and Psalm 29 from the Common English Bible.

READING

May God bless the reading of His Word.

So I decided to do a little digging in reaction to Luke 14:26, in which Jesus says, “Whoever comes to me and doesn’t hate father and mother, spouse and children, and brothers and sisters—yes, even one’s own life—cannot be my disciple.”

Do we really have to hate our family to follow Christ? Of course not. As a matter of fact, in Matthew 15 verse 4, He tells us to honor our father and mother. The point He is making here is given a bit more light when we look at Matthew 6:24. Here, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other.”

The word “hate” in these instances is part of what the commentator A.T. Robertson calls “exaggerated contrast”.

In our reading today in Luke, Jesus is contrasting the idea of being His disciple or not. He is giving a choice. Choose me above all else, or you cannot be my follower. If your mother or father, spouse or children, brothers or sisters would have you put anything before me, you must put them behind you and follow me. If the time comes where you must reject me or give up your life, you must give your life if you want to be my disciple.

For some, this is a hard teaching. But obviously Jesus considered it an important one. I have a hint for you to make it easier to follow this. Make the decision before you are called upon to choose between Jesus and anything else. Once you decide that nothing in your life can come first, once it is cemented in your heart and in your mind, the choosing is easier when the time comes.

Have a great day today! Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. I’m Steve Webb.

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