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25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. (Luke 14:25-33 New International Version)
Happy Monday, Friend! May this be a wonderful day for you! May you share what God shared with you this weekend in your time of worship. Bless someone in a big way! May we continue to pray for Linda and George Barcus during this time of waiting; may the Lord drive the pain away and bring healing to this sweet woman of faith.
I've often wondered if I had lived during the time of Jesus if I would have been among those who would have followed Him? I would love to say YES, I would be one, but I don't know. As I think about how I came to faith, it made more sense, given my parents were people of faith and we were free to worship without fear of repraisals, for we live in a country where worship was once the basically the only thing to do on Sundays. I'm old enough to remember Texas' Blue Law, which meant that most businesses were closed and even Wednesdays were designated for church events. In Jesus' day, He was a traveling rabbi, whose message drew the ire and wrath of the religious leaders of His day. Yet, crowds began to follow Jesus; all for different reasons. The same is true for worship attendance, is it not? (Thus the need for preaching!). And Jesus begins to address the real reasons for following Him. Following Jesus will come at a cost, including the sacrifice of the love of parents and siblings, and even the sacrifice of self. Jesus was saying, "Put me first!" And Jesus stresses that each follower who would become a believer, just carry his or her own cross. Interesting that Jesus inserts that here. The Roman form of excecution was crucifixion, whose name is related to the method, death on a cross. In reallity, Jesus knew that the hatred against Him would grow to the point that even the religious people of His church would kill His believers. Jesus' point is to count the cost, commit, and be ready.
This holds true even today. One can go to church every Sunday or worship online, and not do anything else to further the work of Christ's Kingdom. Jesus compares this to building a tower; if you don't have the money, don't build it. If you start with a foundation and then run out of money, Jesus says that's an invitation for ridicule. Or, if you're a king and you're about to go to war against another king, sit down first and consider how prepared you are to win. If you find you're not ready, then consider making peace. In the same way, if we don't fully prepare for each day as a Christian to do and be our best, then it serves Christ very little. Ours is to build a life that towers over the others, for our foundation is Christ and He allows us to live lives that show Him alive and in our lives. And in the same way if we are to face battles during our day, we'd have better be prepared for all-out war to win. Anything less leads to our defeat.
We've been alive long enough to know that life does bring challenges and opportunites; all of which require our being ready and able to fight the good fight; anything less leads to defeat or loss. Some years ago, I went to pay our car insurance and my agent's yard guy was outside. He was always friendly and we always greeted each other and on that particular day I was led to say that what he was facing would be better faced if he went to church. The next few Sundays found him in church, and one day I got word he was in the hospital, dying. I went to see him and he thanked me for sharing Jesus with him, for he said he knew his time was soon coming to an end and he was ready. I count that as a victory, thanks to God. For we never know what word or hope we can share with someone who truly needs it, and that, dear one, could make an eternal difference in their lives.
PRAYER: Loving God, grant to us Your wisdom and strength to prepare for each day in ways that count towards victory. Help us overcome doubt, despair, or sorrow, so that we can shine Your light brightly in all people. We want to make a difference in all those lives in which we can. Grant us the couarge to carry Your cross; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord. YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be a tower of faith; win a battle for Jesus!
Receive my blessings of love and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
