Manna

(ESV) Luke 14:26 "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.

These words of Jesus had to be a shock to hear for the family centered Jews. The word hate means to love less, not hate as we mean today. You have to place your devotion to Christ even above yourself and your family. A very difficult thing apart from the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

And the bearing the cross would have been shocking, crucifiction was a dispicable death in the minds of the Jews. Following Christ means not neccessarily giving up everything, but being willing to. Not too hard though if you truely trust Christ will take care of you and wants the best for you. Let us each give up more of our stuff and trust Him more today.

For Him,
Steve

Steve Amos
www.joyjournal.net
Sent from my iPad