Luke 14:25-35
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Reflection
The gospel calls us to value everything else as virtually worthless compared to Jesus (Luke 14:33; Phil. 3:7–8). This message is so radically against our natural tendencies that Jesus must shock us with the language of “hating” our loved ones and even our own life (Luke 14:26). As we read these startling words, however, we must also remember that Jesus consistently taught that actual hatred of anyone made in God’s image is contrary to the gospel (see 6:27, 35).
So there is a cost to being a disciple of Jesus. We must arrange our priorities and values around that which is most important: God has graciously called us into his kingdom and has warmly accepted us into his family. Our top priority must now be God and his purposes for our lives. This privilege was purchased by Jesus himself, who bore the ultimate cost by taking our judgment on the cross.
Colossians 4:2-6
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Reflection
Here we see that the gospel of God’s grace fuels the Christian life in three ways: in prayer, partnership, and purpose.
First, Christians must cultivate a life of persistent prayer (Col. 4:2; cf. Mark 1:35; 14:32–39). As those who have been graciously adopted into God’s very family, we have full and free access to the Father who delights to give his gracious blessings to those who seek him. We are liberated to come to him not tepidly or reluctantly but “with thanksgiving” (Col. 4:2). Second, we must humbly partner with others for the sake of gospel ministry (vv. 3–4, 7–17; cf. Mark 3:13–19). Not all of us are preachers, but we are all invited into the adventure of spreading the preached gospel by praying for preachers in our community to have “a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ” (Col. 4:3). Third, our lives must be purposeful, so that through the testimony of our conduct (words and deeds), Christ may be seen (vv. 5–6; cf. Eph. 4:29). We treat others in a “gracious” way (Col. 4:6), as God in Christ has treated us.
Psalm 141:1-2
141: O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
A life of persistent prayer requires a mindfulness of God’s presence during the course of each day. When we say “amen” at the end of a prayer, our relationship with God continues. Turn your thoughts to God in prayer throughout the day, sharing your ideas, desires, and requests with him.