I am surprised that it appears that I have not studied this passage before as I do not have any notes in my Bible. But as is the case with the LORD, He leads me where I need to be when I need to be there.
Everything is important and deserves our attention, but if that is true, then nothing is important. Where is our priority, and what do we do first? On our list, everything and everyone cannot be in the top spot.
“26If 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. 27Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” “33So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26-27 & 33 (ESV)
Jesus is to be in the top spot and everyone and everything comes after. The title of the passage I am studying this morning in my ESV Bible is “The Cost of Discipleship”. This title and the passage itself re-enforce our full devotion to Jesus Christ as we embark on discipleship with Him. It is not for the fickle and is not something that is we can do on the weekends. Following Christ as His disciple is costly, it requires a great deal from us.
Disciple: one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another: such as – b: a convinced adherent of a school or individual – Merriam-Webster Online
I looked up the definition of the word “disciple” this morning and where there was reference to it related to being a disciple of Christ, it was the other reference as you see above that applied to my thoughts this morning. A disciple is one who is fully invested in another’s teaching, and will go to great lengths to spread those teachings to the world around them. A disciple is completely devoted to the one and in this case, to the LORD.
Our devotion to the LORD is costly. We move others down the list of priority in our lives to place Christ at the top spot. Where other things may have importance and are worth spending time and energy on, it is the LORD who gets our time and energy first of all. All other things fall to the side and become less important in the wake of Christ.
“21Jesus said to him, ‘If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ 22When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” – Matthew 19:21-22 (ESV)
The above verses describe the cost the cost. Where in the passage the man is asking what is needed to have eternal life, it applies to our following of Christ in the context of cost. We are to place the value of everything and everyone below the value of Christ. We are to “sell” out for Jesus. This man was not willing to do that and walked away as the cost was too high for him.
The cost is extremely high. The LORD is asking us to place Him in the top spot on our priorities and everything and everyone else are to moved down. To follow Christ means He is our number one priority.
What is important to you? Are you placing those things in the top spot and missing out? What if you were to ensure that Jesus is in the number one spot on your priority list and all else comes after?
Trevor's Thoughts 