READING: Luke 14:25-17:10, John 11:1-37
Today’s reading in Luke’s Gospel pushes me to consider those things I cling to today. Sometimes I cling to my plans and goals. At other times, I hold far too tightly to my possessions. If I’m honest, I like my positional status enough that I can idolize my various roles. I trust I would be willing to give up all these things for Christ, but I do not doubt it would be difficult to do so.
That’s why Jesus’ clear words are helpful to me today. Three times in today’s reading, He points out that one cannot be His disciple apart from loving Him more than loving others and life itself, apart from bearing his own cross, and—this phrase halts me a minute—apart from renouncing all his possessions. That command, however, surely applies more broadly than just to earthly possessions; rather, it is, according to one scholar, “an absolute, unconditional surrender.”* Jesus expects nothing less from all of us who are His disciples.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: To what do you cling today? Your possessions? Your dreams? Something else?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, grant me grace to forsake all for You today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: John 11:38-57, Luke 17:11-18:8
*The MacArthur Study Bible (Kindle Locations 257683-257684). Crossway. Kindle Edition.