Reflecting God from The Foundry Publishing of The Global Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 23 November 2018 - Taking Stock" by Mary Egidio RG112318 Luke 14:25-35

Reflecting God from The Foundry Publishing of The Global Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, Missouri, United States for Friday, 23 November 2018 - Taking Stock" by Mary Egidio RG112318 Luke 14:25-35
Luke 14:25 Large crowds were traveling along with Yeshua. Turning, he said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father, his mother, his wife, his children, his brothers and his sisters, yes, and his own life besides, he cannot be my talmid. 27 Whoever does not carry his own execution-stake and come after me cannot be my talmid.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Don’t you sit down and estimate the cost, to see if you have enough capital to complete it? 29 If you don’t, then when you have laid the foundation but can’t finish, all the onlookers start making fun of you 30 and say, ‘This is the man who began to build, but couldn’t finish!’
31 “Or again, suppose one king is going out to wage war with another king. Doesn’t he first sit down and consider whether he, with his ten thousand troops, has enough strength to meet the other one, who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he hasn’t, then while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation to inquire about terms for peace.33 “So every one of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has cannot be my talmid. 34 Salt is excellent. But if even the salt becomes tasteless, what can be used to season it? 35 It is fit for neither soil nor manure — people throw it out. Those who have ears that can hear, let them hear!” (Complete Jewish Bible).
“So every one of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has cannot be my talmid. (Luke 14:33).
When Jesus talks to His followers about committing themselves to following Him, He makes an interesting comparison. He talks about those who begin major undertakings—the building of a tower or the start of a battle—and the foolishness of beginning such challenges without calculating the full impact of the decision. Commitment that pans out usually has preparation, or calculation behind it. A full measure of the commitment is important.
We read of pioneer missionaries who lost children and spouses to disease, and yet declared their renewed commitment to serving God. I know of faithful pastors who have given their lives to the ministry and God’s church, despite the economic impact on their families and future. I hear of Christian believers around the world who have lost their lives because they refused to recant their faith in Jesus.
Jesus seems to be saying, “This isn’t going to be an easy thing, you know. We’re talking about a commitment that will change your lives.” Are you willing to pay the full price of total commitment?
Hymn for Today: "O for a Heart to Praise My God" by Charles Wesley
1. O for a heart to praise my God,
a heart from sin set free;
a heart that's sprinkled with the blood
so freely shed for me:
2. A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
my great Redeemer's throne;
where only Christ is heard to speak,
where Jesus reigns alone:
3. A humble, lowly, contrite heart,
believing, true, and clean,
which neither life nor death can part
from him that dwells within:
4. A heart in every thought renewed,
and full of love divine;
perfect and right and pure and good —
a copy, Lord, of thine.
5. Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
come quickly from above;
write thy new name upon my heart,
thy new best name of Love.
Thought for Today: I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you. (Romans 12:1a).
Please pray: For those ministering in media to communicate the Gospel in Mesoamerica.
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