"Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said, 'If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.'"
The more I think about the meaning of this passage, the more I come to grips with the fact that discipleship is an unsafe practice. Jesus comes forth to say, to the gathering of those following Him, that there are conditions that have to be met in order to be a true disciple. These conditions are outside of personal devotion and within a realm of sincerity. Jesus tells us that if we are to be His, we must cripple our relationships, our desires, and even the sum of ourselves in order to fully embrace Him - there can be no life outside of this. Let those within the numbers of the Church take to heart the admonition, may it sink deeply into our ears and transform us and our perspectives.
Discipleship, and sincerity before God will cost us our prosperity, our social status, our goals, and our dreams and any hope of gain in this world; but to those who see this as a condition for the crown of life, there will be no regret. To those who remember that these words are spirit and life, there is no room to draw back, for they realize that risking everything upon the premise of hope is a small act in comparison to what is in store for those who love God. Eternity awaits those who hear and keep to His words.
"Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns."
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