Luke 14: 26 – 27 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

These are harsh words coming from the lips of Jesus the Savior. It never occurred to me that He would tell us to hate anyone. Yet the very people we are likely to love the most, those are the ones he is telling us cannot have first place in our lives because that position is His alone. Ouch! And on top of that he says that you can’t be number one either, because you can’t choose your life over him if the challenge should arise. This is serious business! In short, discipleship can cost us everything.

He then continues to tell us that anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Him cannot be his disciple. So the rejection of those we love, or the reordering of our priorities to make Jesus first is to be followed by new discipline in our lives. How are you going to figure this out? By listening to his voice! Jesus said he is the Good Shepherd because he laid down his life for his sheep – that is you and me. “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.” (John10:27).