“Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them: ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.’” [vs 25-27 HCSB]
After Jesus told the crowds who were following Him this hard statement, He told them that people who build towers and kings who go to war count the cost ahead of time to determine if they will have enough to be victorious.
There is a cost to following Jesus. Those who were following Him needed to determine if they were willing to pay that cost. “In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to (renounce or leave) all his possessions cannot be My disciple.” [vs 33 HCSB]
Those are tough words – to be willing to “hate” and willing to “renounce or leave.” Now Jesus does not mean we are to actively “hate” our families … He means we are to love Him and be devoted to following Him so much that it looks like we “hate” everything else by comparison.
Still, we must consider the cost of loving Him that much and being willing to say good-bye to all our possessions if that is what it costs to be His disciples.
In light of what it cost our LORD Christ Jesus to come to save us – leaving the riches, incomprehensible glory, wealth, love, and joy of the Trinity from all eternity – our cost is nothing in comparison.
Thank you, LORD, for loving us so much! Amen
