Luke 14:25-35

“Any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, say goodbye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

It’s funny that Jesus starts this passage off talking about family. Most people freak out when they are told they should hate their father and mother, we quickly reassure them that what Jesus means is that our love for them should feel like hate in comparison to our love for Jesus. And I’m not saying that is wrong, but I think like many portions of Scripture, this points to something deeper.

I have to admit when reading that portion of scripture I always feel like, Well now there is something that Jesus told me to do that I could actually do pretty easily. The majority of my struggles, wounds and issues come from my family of origin. But right before I’m getting ready to throw my hands up in surrender and say Yes Lord, I can follow this command! I will happily hate my family for you! ...

He gives me a week like the one I just had - where every button in me gets pushed, old things come screaming up from the past and sting even more the second time around, and I have to surrender claim to every bit of justice I think I’m owed and every plan for things to go my way in these relationships.

While the truth is staring me in the face that I will never have what I want the way that I want, I have to give up. Because Jesus says plain as day - say goodbye to all that you have or you cannot be my Disciple.

When Jesus says “all you have” I do not think He’s referring to worldly possessions. I think He’s referring to relationships, status, reputation, and of course any rights that we think we have within those structures.

Say goodbye to your right to be treated a certain way. Say goodbye to your right to feel important to someone. Say goodbye to your right to be loved. Say goodbye to your right to belong. Say goodbye to your right to feel understood.

The life of a disciple is one of saying goodbye. We are continually giving up our will and surrendering it at the feet of Jesus.

John 12:24 says that the only way new life comes is from a seed dying and falling to the ground. In life this “death” can be extremely painful. EVERYTHING, all our will must die first.

Why?

Because salt is good, but if it loses its strength and becomes saltless, the only thing you can do with it is throw it out.

Salt brings out the flavor in the food it is seasoning. We are suppose to be bringing out the flavor of God in the world around us. In our circumstances, in our lives, in history.

Quite honestly you can’t say you’re following Christ if you’re not actually following the example He has given us. Jesus fought the injustices of His time, He stood up to evil - but not for His own gain. He surrendered His life because the Father asked Him of it. There was nothing that Jesus put His hands on and told the Father that He couldn’t have.

So for me it’s been discovering that I have been holding on tight to the idea that I can actually change some family members minds about things if they just had enough truth - which led me on a mission to find and beat them over the head with facts of certain situations. I tried for years before I finally surrendered to the idea that only God can change people’s hearts and open their eyes. And this past week has been particularly painful as I even surrendered the idea that they would ever come to see things the way I do. Because that is my will, and my will must die.

But take heart, more death eventually means more life. If it dies, it produces many seeds - John 12:24

What about you? Are you ready to be a disciple? What have you kept your hands on and told God that He cannot have?