Give it all up?

Once when large crowds of people were going along with Jesus, he turned and said to them, ‘Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well. Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples.’ (verses 25-27)

Read Luke 14:25-35

Compared to most people in the world, I’m well off. I own a car, a good range of clothes, and sporting gear, and I’m in the process of owning my own home. I also have a wife and children I love, and a sister and brothers I care for. And Jesus tells me that, to follow him, I have to give up all my possessions and love him, who I haven’t seen, more than the members of my family. Is that a fair swap?

Aussies tend to be suspicious of anything that smells of fanaticism. In Nazism and Communism we’ve seen the frightening results of systems that have demanded total commitment and unthinking obedience. So it’s not surprising that many people would draw back from the radical discipleship that Jesus calls for.

Yes, he demands much of us. But what does he offer in return? He offers the comfort of our failures forgiven and the adventure of living each day as God’s loved child. I think it’s a fair swap.

Lord Jesus, help me to be your disciple and to totally trust and obey my heavenly Father, as you did. Amen.

by John Vitale, in ‘Guidance for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2002)

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