Count the Cost

Read Luke 13:1 - 14:35

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26-27)

Again, it appears that Jesus is stressing and highlighting the fact that he wants all of us. Jesus does not literally refer to "hate" them but he is demonstrating that one must love Jesus more than their immediate family to be a disciple. In this day in age we have countless discipleship programs. They guarantee results but are they really producing disciples of Jesus Christ?  

I have often been on the receiving end of negative feedback that I spend too much time at church and not enough time at home. This is a valid point. Let me make it clear that Jesus does not call us to abandon our families but I presume he is using this as an illustration to consider Him above all things. We should also be more wise with our time. Simply "being" at church does not necessarily translate to being with Jesus. My interpretation of this verse is that we should carefully plan time to minister to our family but not let that be a barrier or hindrance to what God has called us to partner with.

Jesus wants us to surrender everything to Him. Our lives. He wants all of us. Absolutely everything. It was His to begin with. Its kinda like leasing or renting a house to a tenant and them making all these drastic renovations and additions to their discretion. One day the landlord is going to inspect the house. We do not have the authority to do as we please with the life God has given us. It's actually better in his hands than ours. His blueprints are alot more fireproof than ours.