Luke 14:25-33

25 Now large crowds were going along with 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 carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.

The Lord Jesus takes a perfect opportunity to turn around and the meaning of discipleship. A Disciple of Jesus is someone that follows His Teachings, and in return shares Jesus teaching to others His live saving teachings. Following Jesus is not as easy so most believers wish it to be, being apart Christ’s church isn’t like being a member of country clubs. Jesus uses words like love and hate as if how much He wants your devotion to Him and your relationship with others. The Lord Jesus must be your first love in life, when you rise up in the morning, when you dress, when you eat, when you labor, when you relate to others, and when you lay down to rest. When it comes to family members, close friends, and even yourself, Jesus says to hate them and to love Him. The word hate coming out the God of loves mouth, since scripture though to love others as yourself;

2 Corinthians 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

The word hate has different meanings in Hebrews and Greek Bible. The New Testament is all written Greek original and for the word hate; this Greek word is used ( misé? ????? ) it’s definition is: properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another. Jesus simply wants you to love Him more, and love others less, if you or I put other people’s priorities or love before Jesus, you have made that person your god. My brothers and sister would give your devotion to a mortal person who lived for maybe 80 or 75 years, instead of Lord Jesus who is immortal and never dies. Why give your trust to a human heart when scripture is the most deceitful thing?

It is never a good idea to put more trust or love in a mortal than your Creator, He knows your heart, He made it, He knows what direction He wants to guide you to. He has your best interest in His heart. Family members can be your worst enemies sometimes, look at Able, his brother Cain killed him and denied it, he was only upset he got caught and the main issue, that Cain had conversation with the Lord but still loves himself more. Some see the cost of discipleship difficult, I personally don’t, I love my mom, stepfather , siblings, nephews & nieces, but Lord Jesus has done way more for me, they ever could. When Jesus tells me to hate myself and love Him more, no problem, I am my worst enemy. I can teach and understand God’s word, but to live by it 24/7 is hard and it troubles me. I trust and know, when I love Him more and give all myself to Him, the reward He give me is way more than I can give myself and more than any human being. God bless you all, the Lord loves you and so do I. Samuel H .

Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord Than to trust in man.