Today’s Podcast
Today’s Devotional
Today’s background scripture comes from Luke 14.
Many think there is no cost to following Me. It isn’t true. I don’t need your money. I don’t need your house. I don’t need any material possession you own. I need you. And I need you to understand I already own everything you have whether you think I do or not. At best, you are only a steward of the things on earth. Life is short whether you live a few days or a hundred years. When compared to eternity, your lifetime on earth is nothing.
So why spend that time chasing after things that don’t matter? My words sound harsh, you can’t be My disciple without hating your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even your own life. And I will tell you, if you follow Me, you won’t hate them. But in comparison, your love for Me must be on such a higher plain than your love for them it will look like hatred to those that don’t understand. You will make choices for Me and act for Me and the world won’t get it. They will look at you the way they looked at Me.
I could have spared My earthly mother so much pain and suffering. But My love for the Father outdistanced My love for Mary so much I had to act on His behalf so I could act on her behalf. That’s the misunderstanding the world doesn’t get. Doing My will and My work means you will do good for them even when it doesn’t feel good for either of you. The world will say you lost your mind. The world will disown you. It may institutionalize you, incarcerate you, persecute you, even execute you. But following Me will be worth it all.
This life is so confused, so messed up by the sins around you, so given over to evil influences, so short. I have so much more in store for you. Open you hands. Turn your palms down. Now hang on to what you can hold in your hands. That’s what you should love of this world. Grab what lasts. Weigh the cost of serving Me. Understand what I gave to make your eternal life with Me possible. I gave everything for you. What I want in return is…you! Just you!
Today’s Scripture
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Luke 14:25-35
Set – Genesis 35; Luke 14
Go! – Genesis 34-36; Luke 14
Luke 14:25-35
Great crowds joined Him [Jesus] on His journey, and He turned to them.
Jesus: 26 If any of you come to Me without hating your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and yes, even your own life, you can’t be My disciple. 27 If you don’t carry your own cross as if to your own execution as you follow Me, you can’t be part of My movement. 28 Just imagine that you want to build a tower. Wouldn’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to be sure you have enough to finish what you start? 29 If you lay the foundation but then can’t afford to finish the tower, everyone will mock you: 30 “Look at that guy who started something that he couldn’t finish!”
31 Or imagine a king gearing up to go to war. Wouldn’t he begin by sitting down with his advisors to determine whether his 10,000 troops could defeat the opponent’s 20,000 troops? 32 If not, he’ll send a peace delegation quickly and negotiate a peace treaty. 33 In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything. Don’t underestimate that cost!
34 Don’t be like salt that has lost its taste. How can its saltiness be restored? Flavorless salt is absolutely worthless. 35 You can’t even use it as fertilizer, so it’s worth less than manure! Don’t just listen to My words here. Get the deeper meaning.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Music by the Booth Brothers from Room for More, “Faithful One” ©2008.
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