na day4 - set
Originally uploaded by joey
Abandon
So, nobody wants to be this person right? It's tough. Nothing to really call your own, nowhere to sleep, hardly anything to eat. Yet we're called to this.
Luke 14:25-33
25)Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26)"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. 27)And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28)"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29)For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30)saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'
31)"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32)If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33)In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
So three things.
1. Hate your father, mother, brothers and sisters, and yourself, you can't be a disciple of Christ. Commonly interpreted as a hyperbole (an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis) Especially in light of Matthew 10:37 "If you love your Father and Mother more than me, you're not even my disciple"
2. If you do not carry your cross, you can not be a disciple of Christ. Deny self, give up desires and dreams to follow God. Repenting and fleeing from sin.
3. Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Of the three this is the most self explanatory, yet most confusing.
Give up everything? Surely he can't mean my home or my wealth or my life, can he? I'm not sorry to tell you that this portion of the verse is not a hyperbole.
The greek word used in this verse is apotasso. It means: say farewell (to), take leave (of); renounce, give up.
Love Jesus above all, so that your love for your family looks like hate. Carry your cross and die to your self daily. Give up everything you have.
Need examples?
Peter James and John
Elisha
Abraham
Moses
Noah
most of all,
Jesus. Who are we to be like?
Jesus.
new attitude conference 2007
So I leave tomorrow after work to go to Louisville, Kentucky for the New Attitude Conference. Please pray for safety for me. I'll be going solo, but I'm sure that I'll make some friends. All in all I think it will be good quiet time for me to reflect and evaluate everything in my life in contrast with scripture, with the changes that will be taking place in the months to come. Thank you for your prayers. I love you all and will miss you very much.
the task remaining.
matthew 24:14
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
romans 15:20-21
"and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, Those who have never been told of him will see,and those who have never heard will understand."
revelation 5:9
"And they sang a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scrolland to open its seals,for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for Godfrom every tribe and language and people and nation"
number of unreached people groups = 6,442
(www.joshuaproject.net)
"His authority on earth allows us to dare to go to all the nations. His authority in heaven gives us our only hope of success. And His presence with us leaves us no other choice."
-John Stott
