Commitment to Jesus

 “Whoever comes to me 

and does not hate father and mother,

 wife and children, brothers and sisters,

 yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.

(from Luke 14:24-33)

I wonder why Jesus is making such a harsh statement when his ministry was about love of God and neighbor?

Consider this:

Imagine yourself at a Billy Graham Crusade.

There is lots of singing, and a challenging message that concludes with an invitation to come forward and make a commitment to Jesus.

You respond to the invitation, go forward, and are met with one to the team who then explains the next steps you have to take.

It's a first century setting like this in which Jesus makes statements about the sacrifice of being a disciple.

He's using the word "hate" as a hyperbole to stress the importance of discipleship.

We sacrifice according to our priorities. 

Jesus says the Kingdom of God he proclaims and the kingdom life of which he is an example should be a priority even with its difficult choices.

When we pray: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” then we need to make the sacrifices and set the priorities to bring it about.

This will have consequences.

When I began talking with some church members about abortion, my point of view was not well received.

Yet, I believe that I must continue speaking out for my point of view because that's how one lives in God's kingdom.

I respect other's points of view because in God's kingdom love of God and neighbor take priority.

At some point I may experience a verbal crucifixion from someone with a different point of view, but I know that when I love and serve God as Jesus declares, crucifixion will lead to a new, transformed life of peace.