Read Luke 14:25-35 

 

Verse 26 - Jesus makes what seems to be a shocking statement to get our attention - but what this is about is the importance of setting priorities. Jesus must be first, above all else. When you have an active relationship with God, it affects your relationships with other people. Our obedience to Christ's teachings molds us (little by little) into the image of.Christ. We learn to think and act according to His will and purposes. Being a disciple of Jesus (giving Him top priority) will have a positive effect on how we interact with other people, and good, healthy relationships will "fall into place." Jesus is not telling us to hate anyone - He's telling us to make our relationship with Him our top priority. 

 

Verse 27 

Carry his own Cross - We are responsible for our own selves. Each individual has to make a choice for themselves to accept Jesus Christ. No one can rely on someone else's faith to "carry theircr.oss" for them. Neither can you carry someone else's cr.oss. Discipleship requires effort. 

 

Carry his own Cross - Remember, this was obviously spoken before Jesus was crucified on a cross. But the people in Jesus' day would have understood the implication, as crucifixion was a common practice in the Roman Empire. A cross was an instrument of death. As disciples of Jesus, we must "put to death" the sin in our lives, selfish desires, pride, greed. Discipleship requires personal sacrifice. 

 

Verse 28 - calculate the cost - Discipleship requires top priority, effort and sacrifice. It has a cost. But the benefits far outweigh the cost.

       What are the benefits?    Eternal life 

                                                    Forgiveness

                                                    Peace 

                                                    Joy

                                                   Contentment 

                                                   (the list can go on and on ... ) 

 

Verses 29-30-if you aren't prepared to pay the cost, (priority, effort, sacrifice) you will not see the intended end result 

 

      "not able to finish" - compare this to the Parable of the Sower (from Luke chapter 8) 

 

                  The parable - Read Luke 8:5- 7 

                     - the seed is not able to accomplish its intended purpose of producing a crop 

 

                 The spiritual meaning of the parable - Read Luke 8: 11-14 

                  - the word was sown into unprepared hearts - (could not accomplish its intended

                      purpose of bearing fruit with perseverance) 

                              v. 12 - no priority given to the word  

                              v .13 - no effort to keep the word 

                              v.14 - no willingness to sacrifice in order to obey the word 

 

                     Read Luke 8: 15 

                     A true disciple - one who is willing to pay the cost (priority, effort, and sacrifice) has                       a prepared heart, an "honest and good" heart, that will "bear fruit with perseverance." 

 

Verse 33 - What is meant by possessions? 

     - earthly possessions - they hold no value in the kingdom -don't hang on to and rely on them 

     - self reliance - instead, rely on God (trust Him), recognize your need of Him 

     - self will - instead submit to God's will 

 - this verse speaks (again) about personal sacrifice, but also of putting your full trust in God and 

    submitting your will to God's will 

 

Verse 34 - A true disciple is passionate about learning from God, obeying Him, and following His will.   We have to maintain our faith and continue to allow ourselves to be "taught" by God. Discipleship is an ongoing, lifelong endeavor. If we get lazy in our faith walk, we become like tasteless salt- useless. 

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