Words of Wisdom

by Pastor Michael T. Keenan

March 2007

Our Lord's Terms for Discipleship

Luke 14:25-33

In this passage of Scripture we see the Lord deals with the hearts, conduct and possessions of His children.  There is much 'talk' of following the Lord today but very few lives that evidence true discipleship.  If we are to be "disciples of Christ" we must meet His requirements, not our own.  Please note that three times Our Lord says that someone "cannot be my disciple", v. 26, 27, 33.

Please note three Requirements in the scriptures to be the Lord's disciple.

1. v. 26 - Our Lord Wants Unrivaled Love.

   The Lord seeks first place in our hearts and lives.  In Rev. 2 the church let Ephesus was reproved for having left their first love.  The Lord uses the word 'hate' in v. 26.  In Matt 10:37 He reveals that those who love father or mother more than Him are not worthy of Him.

   Many times our relatives or friends will see our love for the Saviour and interpret that as us hating them.  Not so. But surely the Lord deserves and requires that we love Him First and with all our hearts.

   If we love the Lord and give Him first place in our lives we will seek Him and His Righteousness and not the World or Fleshly things of the World.

    

2. v. 27 - Our Life's Conduct.

   The Christian life this side of heaven is to be one of unending cross bearing.  No laying down the cross till we reach the other side.

   Bearing the cross if volunteering.  The Cross is an instrument of Death.  We must die to Self, Sin and the World or we cannot be Our Lord's disciples.  The Cross is Victorious!  We can and should have Victory over the Flesh, World and Sin.  We must learn the lessons of Gal. 2:20 - a person on the Cross has no plans of his own, they're only looking in one direction and he's not coming down, "no quit."

    

3. v. 33 - Our Personal Possessions.

   There needs to be our unqualified forsaking of all.  The old preacher taught us "our possessions should  not posses us."

   Ultimately we're talking about God having Control of our lives; spirit, soul and body.  Very few folks today are willing to submit All to the Lord.

   Just because we got saved doesn't mean we got smart.  We should Trust the Lord, Prov. 3:5,6 and lose our life that we might find the Blessed Will of God and the life He has for us.  Mark 8:34,35

   William Booth, Salvation Army, when pressed about the success of his life and ministry humbly replied; "If I have been at all successful, it's because God had all of me there was to have."  Have we presented ourselves to the Lord for Service?  Rom 12:1,2