S = 14:26-27,33 “If
anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and
children and 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... So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has
cannot be my disciple.”
O = The first thing I observe after the surprising use of “hate”,
is the thrice repeated phrase, “…cannot be my disciple.” Jesus was talking not
about a potential disciple’s willingness but their ability to do it. The key
has to do with undivided love. This passage is certainly one of Jesus’ “hard
words”, but Jesus is not telling his followers to be mean or unfeeling towards
family, but merely using the strong language of a Semitic idiom for “to love
less than.” It reminds me of the teenager who might say, “When I get home my
parents are going to kill me!” In normal speech we understand that such a
statement is not to be taken literally but is an idiom for being in a lot of
trouble. However, Jesus’ words here are indeed a radical call to a mission—one that
must be pursued even if opposed by one’s own family, even at the cost of one’s
own life. Discipleship requires that a disciple have a cross-bearing attitude;
an attitude that renounces all else as belonging to himself. Why? Because all
of his person, every ounce of strength is focused on following Christ…just as
Christ was focused on fulfilling the mission given him by his Father. My part
in this mission cannot succeed if I am divided in my loyalties. My love for
Christ should lead me to love my family more and more, but that result can only
flow out of a single-minded love for Christ. If I just want to make my family “happy”
then I won’t be carrying a cross or going on any one-way missions for the Lord’s
kingdom. My life will end up as an unfinished tower—a testimony of good
intentions without counting the cost. But…there is a cost of not being a
disciple as well, and though its payment is deferred its cost is terrible.
A = Am I able to be Christ’s disciple this week? (It seems almost
silly to speak of discipleship in such short terms, but I must start
somewhere.)
- Do I love Jesus more than my closest family, and
even my own life?
- Do I bear my cross, the implement of my temporal
doom, and not let it slow me down as I follow Jesus?
- Do I renounce anything and everything as belonging
to me, “all in” for Jesus, or am I like the Seagulls in the old movie, Finding Nemo crying, “Mine! Mine!
Mine!” over every potential scrap?
Discipleship
is radically different from the status quo…but Jesus is the One who calls me to
it. Yes it is costly, but it is worth it at any price.
P = O Lord, May I never be prevented from being your
disciple by loving something or someone else more than I do you. All I have
comes from you and is still yours…may I steward it wisely and complete the “tower”
you call me to build in defense of your kingdom! May I surrender only to you in
this mission! May you be glorified and may my family know your love in the
process. Amen.
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