Reading Plan:
Luke 14

Did you read it? That was a lot to take in. Sometimes I read out of The Jesus Bible which has a whole extra section on the cost of discipleship. Let me share with you the words I read that rocked my world a little today: “Those who seek to follow Jesus casually have failed to think deeply about his death on the cross. While God gives sinners salvation freely, living a life of discipleship costs everything, as what is required is daily and complete surrender to God and his will.”

Daily, complete surrender. Did you catch the part where it says we can’t be Jesus’s disciple if we don’t hate our father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters? Does that mean that we have to literally hate them? Of course not. But it means we are supposed to love even our families less than we love Jesus.

Then, there’s the part where it tells us we can’t be Jesus’s disciples if we do not bear our own cross and come after Him. I’m going to defer to my study Bible on this one because I couldn’t say it any better - “Crucifixion is a shocking metaphor for discipleship. A disciple must deny himself (die to self-will), take up his cross (embrace God’s will, no matter the cost), and follow Christ.”

I think it is all too easy for me to fall into the lie that following Jesus is comfortable. That it’s easy. I’ve been reminded very specifically today that there is a cost to following Jesus, and it requires sacrifice and surrender on my part. The thing I can so easily forget is that these things must happen daily. I have to daily choose to love Jesus more than my husband. More than my babies! I have to die to my own will every day.

I’ve read this passage before. More than once, actually. But reading it today was a reminder that, yet again, I need to recalibrate and focus on Jesus over everything. If you needed that reminder too, we’re in this together!


Reflection:

• What do you know God is asking you to fully surrender to Him today (and every day)?

Have Kids?

• When God created the world, He made it perfectly. But we chose our way instead of God’s way, and then the world was not perfect anymore. But God had a plan to rescue us.

• God’s plan from the beginning of the world was to send Jesus to rescue us. Jesus became our rescue by living a sinless life and then dying on a cross and coming back to life three days later. When Jesus did this, He rescued us. When we chose our way instead of God’s way, we were separated from God but when Jesus died for us and came back to life, He brought us back to God. Now when we have a relationship with God, we get to live with Him forever.

• This is the best news ever! Ask your family to respond to this good news. Some might be ready to start a relationship with Jesus for the first time. Answer their questions and pray with them. If they have already started a relationship with Jesus think through who you can share this good news with today?