Reflection

Luke 14:25-35

The crowd following Jesus seems to be getting pretty big at this point. We all are followers of Jesus in its simplest form. We are all wandering from town to town and listening to his teaching. Maybe even chatting about what we like or maybe even what we don’t understand. But today we heard a challenging teaching. Jesus doesn’t just want us to follow him around like a great speaker; he seems to imply following him requires much more than what we are doing in this moment. 

Jesus tells us we need to count the cost of discipleship, claiming we can’t be disciples unless we hate our immediate family. Then he uses two images/parables to emphasize this point. The first being how we wouldn’t build something without first truly knowing the cost. The second, how a king wouldn’t go to war without first knowing they had the men needed to win the war. Third, He says we can’t be real disciples without giving up every possession we have. With one more word picture, he concludes, saying that we are called to be like good salt that preserves and flavors food, but if we can do that, we are worthless. If we can follow Jesus with all that we are, we are good salt, but if we can’t, we aren’t worth anything as a disciple. 

What Jesus is saying is giving me pause. I know Jesus doesn’t call me to have a burning anger against my family. I know he really just wants me to choose what is best when he calls (him before anything else). But it’s hard to think that he might call me away from those whom I’m closest to. What would I even be able to do without them?

Devotional Questions

In what ways has/might Jesus call you to choose Him over your family? 

What possessions are hardest for you to let go of to follow Jesus? 

What will you do this week to choose Jesus over and above your own desires and passions? 

Lord, the cost to follow you is great, but the reward is greater. Help us do what is impossible for us on our own and surrender our entire lives to a relationship with you. Amen