The Toughest Verse

“such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26)

I love scripture.  I better – I’ve been teaching it for over fifty years now.  I like the fact that we are promised if I “give, it will be given to me.” Not only given, but given “in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, poured into my lap.”  I could use a lap full of good things.  How about you?  And I don’t mind, “love each other with genuine affection.”  Though I admit that at times that stretches me.  How about you? 

But there is one verse in the book of Luke that leaves me scratching my head.  It is found in chapter 14 and verse 26.  Listen closely to it. “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.”

Originally it sounds as if we don’t hate our family, discipleship is off the table.  I mean, what do we do with all that love stuff the bible teaches?  Do we toss it out the window when it comes to truly being a follower of Christ?  Breathe easy – the answer to that question is no.

In order to be Christ’s disciple, we must give up everything for him.  That includes family, as well as our own lives, along with our personal goals and desires.  The Greek word for hate in that verse means to renounce one choice in favor of another.  It is telling us that if we want to go south and Christ wants us to go north – we go north.  It means if our family wants us to go east and Jesus wants us to go west – we go west.  It means we lay aside what we want for what our Savior wants.

As you do that, others may look at you and say you hate others, or you’re foolish to give up on what you want.  But it is not that at all.  Obeying this command is the manifestation that you love Jesus Christ more than anyone or anything.  It is easy to lose our joy if we don’t obey all that Christ asks of us. 

Years ago, the Lord asked me to walk away from a ministry I loved doing.  It was a very difficult decision for both Reid and me to make, especially considering that we had just built a new condo and now my paycheck was flying out the window.  But to this day, neither of us have experienced one ounce of regret.  It was our opportunity to drive a stake in the ground to say that we truly wanted to be Christ’s disciples.

How about you?  Are you willing to hate everyone and everything in comparison to your love and obedience to Jesus Christ?  Is there anything he could ask you to do that you would not be willing to obey him in?  Luke 14:26 is probably one of the toughest verses in the New Testament.  It asks us to put everything and everyone aside in order to love Jesus Christ the way he asks us to.  Are you willing to do that? 

                                                            Darlene