NOW GREAT MULTITUDES followed the LORD JESUS. Most leaders would be elated by such widespread interest. BUT THE LORD was not looking for fans nor cheerleaders nor for people who would follow HIM out of curiosity, with NO REAL HEART INTEREST. HE was looking for those who were willing to live devotedly and passionately for HIM, and even die for HIM if necessary! And so HE now began to sift the crowd by presenting to them the STRINGENT TERMS OF DISCIPLESHIP. At times the LORD JESUS wooed men to HIMSELF, but after they began to follow HIM, HE winnowed them. That is what is taking place here. FIRST of all HE told those who followed HIM that in order to be TRUE DISCIPLES, they must LOVE HIM SUPREMELY. HE did not ever suggest that men should have (((BITTER HATRED))) in their hearts toward father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters. Rather HE was emphasizing that LOVE FOR CHRIST BE SO GREAT THAT ALL OTHER LOVES ARE (((HATRED BY COMPARISON)))! No consideration of family ties must ever be allowed to deflect a disciple from a pathway of FULL OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! Actually, the most difficult part of this first term of discipleship is found in the words: AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO. It is not only that we must LOVE THOSE WHO ARE CLOSEST TO US (((LESS)))); we must (((HATE))) our own lives also! Instead of living SELF-CENTERED lives, we must live CHRIST-CENTERED lives! Instead of asking how every action will affect ourselves, we must be careful to assess how it will affect CHRIST AND HIS GLORY! Considerations of personal comfort and safety must be subordinated to the great task of GLORIFYING CHRIST AND MAKING HIM KNOWN THROUGH THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL! THE SAVIORS WORDS ARE ABSOLUTE. HE said that IF WE DID NOT LOVE HIM SUPREMELY, more than our family and more than our own lives, we could (((NOT BE HIS DISCIPLES))). HE MEANT WHAT HE SAID. There is NO HALFWAY MEASURE. It is obvious that CHRIST will have no one among HIS followers who is desiring to put COMFORT, EASE, FAMILY TIES, PLEASURE, SELF, and SECURITY FIRST ahead of HIS Kingdom. There is no place in HIS band for those who are not willing to accept inconvenience, persecution, sufferings, loneliness, rejection, uncertainty, tears and even death --FOR HIS SAKE AND THE GOSPELS! There is always the temptation to SAVE OUR LIFE, but he that saves his life will lose it. This paradoxical saying reveals an important SPIRITUAL TRUTH --those who pursue a life of ease, comfort, and acceptance by the world, with SELF AS THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING --will find themselves in the end to be REPROBATES, WITH NO ETERNAL LIFE. CHRIST calls us to pour out our lives for HIS SAKE AND THE GOSPELS (Mark 8:34-38), dedicating our lives to HIM spirit, soul, and body. HES called us to spend and be spent in HIS holy service, to lay down our lives, if we have to, for the evangelization of the world. That is what is meant by losing our lives.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:38:27 +0000
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