8th Jun 26 | 14:45
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Luke 14 25-33 The cost of discipleship 21 Forsaking all at the level of our motives
📖 Luke 14:25-33
12Jan2020 - *Forsaking all at the level of our motives* - _Luke 14:25-33_ - Bible reading: _I John 2:15-17_
We understood the *first* requirement to be a disciple of Christ, when Jesus said that we have to hate our loved ones. We then looked at the *second* requirement, which is to hate our life. The *third* requirement to be a disciple of Jesus is to deny the self. The *fourth* is to take up our cross daily. The *fifth* is to follow Him. The *sixth* requirement is to abide in Him or in His word. The *seventh* is to bear much fruit. The *eighth* requirement is to love one another as He has loved us. The *ninth* is to love our enemies and the *tenth* requirement to be a disciple of Jesus is to *forsake all* and follow Him.
We need a constant reminder that we cannot be Christ’ disciples by our own strength. We will fail miserably if we try to do so. Discipleship is a walk in the Holy Spirit.
*_Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple._*
Yesterday, we concluded with the learning from the rich young ruler that he was not willing to forsake his material possessions, due to which, he forfeited eternal life. This was a matter of his heart, of his motives. This is what is frightening with regards to this final requirement to be a disciple of Jesus. The Lord sees the heart. Externally, the rich young ruler had every distinctive that would qualify him to be a disciple of Jesus, but the heart, was an entirely different matter.
The Lord sees our hearts. _Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' "_ Bread, represents the material needs of life. All of us need ‘bread’ but our life is not to be lived by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The choices that we make in life ought not to be bread based but word of God, based.
Is this true – in terms of our motives and our choices? What are the motives on the basis of which we have made and are making our choices in life? Is it the word of God that determines our choices in life or is it bread? I would say, we are consistently making bread-based choices in life and we cover it up, with a spiritual sounding cloak, saying that we are also involved in some sort of Christian activity. God sees through us and He knows our hypocrisy.
_I John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (16) For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. (17) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever._ It is he, who does the will of God, who will abide forever.
We see an incident, where God deals with the motives of our heart. _Acts 5:1-5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. (2) And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. (3) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? (4) While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." (5) Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things._
Even after knowing the ways of God, will we still continue on, blissfully, thinking that God will excuse us for our choices, where we have not forsaken the world, to be His disciples? Please remember the rich young ruler that in his heart he held on to his possessions, and he lost eternal life.
Let us be assured, choosing to be a disciple of Jesus, in its true sense, will not leave us lacking in any way. The Lord guarantees His care on us. _Mark 10:29-30 So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, (30) who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life._
*Thought to ponder*
```What was the motive that brought you to be, where you are, today?```
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