The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

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( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Luke:14:25-35

kjv@Luke:14:25 @ And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

kjv@Luke:14:26 @ If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

kjv@Luke:14:27 @ And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

kjv@Luke:14:28 @ For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

kjv@Luke:14:29 @ Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

kjv@Luke:14:30 @ Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

kjv@Luke:14:31 @ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

kjv@Luke:14:32 @ Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

kjv@Luke:14:33 @ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

kjv@Luke:14:34 @ Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

kjv@Luke:14:35 @ It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

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Today's notes:

Context:

• Before - Luke:14:15-24 The Parable of the Great Banquet
  
• After - Luke:15:1-7 The Parable of the Lost Sheep
  

Study Resources:

G3404 hate/love less

Notes:

There needn't be confusion nor contradiction in the complexity of this love/hate matter. We are to love God with all our heart. We are to love others as ourselves. We are to cherish our wives as He who so loved the church that He gave Himself for her. We are to honor our parents. We are to be known by our love for one another that we are His. All of the above, no ifs ands or buts!

The thing is that love is just as much matter of self sacrifice as it is matter of affection. When it is said "God so loved the world that HE gave..." in like terms it should follow that "I myself so loved God that I gave ..." as the indication of the presence of true meaningful love. When it says "love the Lord your God with all heart/soul/mind/strength" it can just as easily be read "to sacrifice your many wants/purposes/reasonings/determinations to HIS greater influence". How then can one do that when God's greater influence is constantly being compromised to the more corrupted forms of love, love for a parent/spouse/sibling/confidante outside of your/their relationship to God?

Think in terms of the original audience that this teaching was directed to. They were strict and devout Jews. This Jesus was bold and new and most uncomfortable to those who were of a much more traditional stock. These New believers would be seen by their friends and families as traitors and defectors, heretics. Would their love for God as God so revealed Himself be compromised for the love of family/community? If so it would be better had they hated them; the family certainly hated that they had thought of being a follower of Jesus.

Think in terms of our present context: the resurrection of the just and God's judgment. What better love than to lead another into the resurrection and eternal reward? The command is to love, the reality is because of that love we will be hated of all nations.; some to be turned in to the authorities by their own hateful family members. The cost to be considered is what personal sacrifice is required as investment towards that better outcome (spiritual love) and what sacrifice is merely ineffective compromise towards another's hard hearted resistance/continuance. For many of us today, our consideration of cost has not amounted to the cost being evaluated in other corners of the world.

Now it very well may be that others will see your love as hate toward them. You might see their hate as love for you and thereby compromise the truer love God has shown unto you. Don't confuse the two love and hate. The command is to love and to count the cost ahead of the inevitable battle. Spritual love is intended to transcend the earthbound definitions of mother/father/son/daughter/spouse/friend/neighbor putting all on the same plane of child of God, servant and apostle of Christ. It is a most revolutionary concept when it gets to the brass tacks of it!

Key Messages:

Declaring Certainty

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Further Resources:

Comment Board:Luke:14:25-35
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Luke:14:25-35 rwp@Luke:14:25-35 mhcc@Luke:14:25-35
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

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