Monday Devo

Read Luke 14:25-35. I love the fact that Jesus never let the crowds go to his head. At times it seems every time there was a crowd forming that spoke of something "big" happening he rebuked them! Like Mark Twain once pointed out, "if you start to find your views are becoming the popular majority - it's probably time to change views." In other words if its really becoming popular there are probably questionable motives involved.

Jesus doesn't let his followers go unchallenged. Why are we following Jesus?

If we don't see the big picture of Jesus and his message of love this can come across a bit harsh. 

When Jesus says, "shoulder his own cross" it is important to understand the Father always does the heavy lifting. Christianity isn't about our ability or striving. As Paul says, I labor with all HIS energy in me." (Col 1:29) The Lord provides the strength. The point of this verse is that we must let him lead - not our family. It is hard to walk away from the values we were taught that contradict Jesus but if we fear our parents more than we love the Lord we can't follow him.

Jesus himself was rejected by his family - laughed at even. I'm concerned about how secular Christianity is. So many don't know or accept the fact that we should at times be viewed as different. When the world looks at the church and accepts them - there's probably something wrong. The radicle love of Jesus in and of itself is a mystery. The early church fellowshiped so much that the Romans accused them of having orgies. They couldn't understand why people would love to just get together and be with one another. Those kinds of friendships were so strange to them.

Notice verse 33 says "if you're not WILLING". Like with Abraham being asked to sacrifice his own son after waiting decades to have a child many times we are asked to give up the most dear things to us simply to is if we're WILLING. At times we must truly surrender the things and people precious to us but the key is - "are we willing?"

It is encouraging that the chapter that follows this is all about God's pursuit of us. He will stop at nothing to chase us down to show us his love. When we really have let Jesus love us we'll count the cost and follow Jesus with out looking back. When we truly embrace the cross we see the love of Jesus for all it really is we can put the cross before us and the world behind us with the joy of the Lord as our strength. It won't seem like work to follow Jesus.

Mary Magdalene cleansed of 7 demons had this radicle commitment. She knew God's love because she knew what it meant to truly be set free by the master.

I think Jesus took this direct approach to force the crowd waiting to see the next miracle or receive the next free meal to check their motives. This passage doesn't intimidate the Jesus lovers but it does those just hanging out for the experience.

questions

1) What is the greatest sacrifice you've had to make for Christ? Is there anything you would not give up for Jesus?

2) How has the church conformed more to the world to avoid rejection?

3) What should the church today be doing that demonstrates the kind of commitment Jesus is speaking of?

prayer

Father we want more of your heart. Purify our motives. Strengthen us to follow you regardless. Let us be like the 144000 of Revelation 14 who, "followed the lamb wherever he went." Lord we are radically open to you. We want whatever you have for us. Your loving kindness is better than life!