Luke 14:25-33
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.
“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.’
“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?
“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.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
I have a friend whose
grandfather was told by his Jewish parents that he would no longer be
welcome in their home if he chose Jesus…and he made the heartbreaking
decision to say “Goodbye” to his family. I know someone whose husband
told her, “It’s Him or me.” She chose Jesus…(and for the record, her
husband is still with her)!
I know countless people of all ages
and “positions” who have had to make hard choices between pleasing
someone else or “fitting in”…and following Jesus. I know people who
have lost their jobs because they wouldn’t lie or “cook the books” and
children who have been ridiculed and labeled “Jesus Freaks” because they
chose to honor God with their words and actions rather than go along
with the crowd. And when you are a kid going against the grain with
your peers or your parents…or a spouse or partner standing up to your
significant other and saying, “I choose Jesus over you”…this can be a
truly daunting decision. When you have mouths to feed and bills to pay,
it’s hard to tell your boss, I will not do this because it dishonors
God.
No one ever said being a Christian would be easy. And if
everyone failed to tell you this when you gave your heart and sinful
nature to Jesus, consider yourself told here and now! There will be
days when it seems so much easier to say, “Yeah, whatever!” and move
right along in the groove with everyone else. It’s hard to say “No” to
your friends, family, and co-workers…especially when they can’t seem to
see what all the fuss is about. There are a lot of Christians who are
somewhat “half-baked.” They have given their heart to Jesus and asked
for their sins to be forgiven…but they refuse to give Him everything.
They want to hold certain associations, attitudes and behaviors in
reserve. But you cannot be Jesus’ disciple if you aren’t willing to give
him every single speck of your life…body, mind and soul.
When it comes to Christian discipleship, good enough is simply not good enough!
Where are you still holding out on Jesus today? Where have you failed
to fully surrender to Him? Who – or what – are you putting ahead of
serving Christ completely? Will this be the day that you totally go
“all in” with Him and become His disciple, once and forever? Are you
ready to fall to your knees and get started?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label what it costs to be a Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label what it costs to be a Christian. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 24, 2013
Luke 14:18-20
But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Every single day, we make countless excuses. You may not even realize that you are doing this, but stop and think about your day. One of the first I recall making today was to my mom. We were talking on the phone, and I saw the mail lady bring a package to my door, so I said, “I need to hang up now… someone is at my door.” I told my nephews and niece that I could not stay and visit with them this afternoon, because I had to go to Wal-Mart and shop. I even told one of my cats that I couldn’t feed her… because it wasn’t time for her dinner yet! All of these excuses were legitimate. But we make so many that are not. Rather than be honest – for whatever reason – we make up what we hope is a plausible explanation and hope that the other guy will say, “That’s okay,” or “I understand.”
The problem is that we can easily get into a bad habit of making excuses, and pretty soon, we have an answer for everything! We especially do this with God. We can’t always excuse our way out of work, school, obligations to family and friends… but we are pretty sure we can get God to let us off the hook. He’ll always love us… right? We’re too busy to serve Him. Our “free time” is too precious to spend in worship or doing mission work. We are not talented, smart enough, or physically able to do the things that are asked of us. God will sympathize… won’t He?
The short answer is, “No! He will not!” Understand this… God will always love us – but He will not accept our excuses. If you expand your examination of Luke 14, you will see that Jesus clearly tells us that there is a cost for being a Christian… and for some, this price can seem quite high. In order to fully follow Jesus Christ, some people will have to give up relationships with family members and friends. Some will have to change jobs, kick old habits, and modify a lot of attitudes. There will be Christians who risk their very lives in order to proclaim their discipleship.
Christians were never promised an easy or comfortable life. And this is where so many of us get it wrong. We expect life in Christ to be a cake walk… freely He gives us salvation, and “freely” we plan to take! So when things get awkward, difficult, embarrassing, or unpleasant… when we are called to step out of the box and put our needs on the shelf, the excuses start to flow like a bubbling stream. This doesn’t make us bad people… but it does speak to our level of commitment. Too many of us want to be “a little bit Christian” – the part that gets us into heaven without having to make any sacrifices or step outside our comfort zone.
The time has come for us to stop playing around and making excuses. It is time for us to get serious about our commitment to Christ… to literally take a “leap of faith” and go full in for Jesus. Where will this leave you? Will you have a new spouse, a crop to inspect, or pets and livestock to tend? Or will you be ready to drop what you are doing and go wherever – and whenever – God calls you? The choice is totally ours…how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Every single day, we make countless excuses. You may not even realize that you are doing this, but stop and think about your day. One of the first I recall making today was to my mom. We were talking on the phone, and I saw the mail lady bring a package to my door, so I said, “I need to hang up now… someone is at my door.” I told my nephews and niece that I could not stay and visit with them this afternoon, because I had to go to Wal-Mart and shop. I even told one of my cats that I couldn’t feed her… because it wasn’t time for her dinner yet! All of these excuses were legitimate. But we make so many that are not. Rather than be honest – for whatever reason – we make up what we hope is a plausible explanation and hope that the other guy will say, “That’s okay,” or “I understand.”
The problem is that we can easily get into a bad habit of making excuses, and pretty soon, we have an answer for everything! We especially do this with God. We can’t always excuse our way out of work, school, obligations to family and friends… but we are pretty sure we can get God to let us off the hook. He’ll always love us… right? We’re too busy to serve Him. Our “free time” is too precious to spend in worship or doing mission work. We are not talented, smart enough, or physically able to do the things that are asked of us. God will sympathize… won’t He?
The short answer is, “No! He will not!” Understand this… God will always love us – but He will not accept our excuses. If you expand your examination of Luke 14, you will see that Jesus clearly tells us that there is a cost for being a Christian… and for some, this price can seem quite high. In order to fully follow Jesus Christ, some people will have to give up relationships with family members and friends. Some will have to change jobs, kick old habits, and modify a lot of attitudes. There will be Christians who risk their very lives in order to proclaim their discipleship.
Christians were never promised an easy or comfortable life. And this is where so many of us get it wrong. We expect life in Christ to be a cake walk… freely He gives us salvation, and “freely” we plan to take! So when things get awkward, difficult, embarrassing, or unpleasant… when we are called to step out of the box and put our needs on the shelf, the excuses start to flow like a bubbling stream. This doesn’t make us bad people… but it does speak to our level of commitment. Too many of us want to be “a little bit Christian” – the part that gets us into heaven without having to make any sacrifices or step outside our comfort zone.
The time has come for us to stop playing around and making excuses. It is time for us to get serious about our commitment to Christ… to literally take a “leap of faith” and go full in for Jesus. Where will this leave you? Will you have a new spouse, a crop to inspect, or pets and livestock to tend? Or will you be ready to drop what you are doing and go wherever – and whenever – God calls you? The choice is totally ours…how will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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