Have you ever tried to live for Jesus and then see Him do some great things in your life and they still don't believe in what you are doing? That would be a horrible thing to have to deal with and Jesus had to deal with it Himself. John 7: 1 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want[a] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders there were looking for a way to kill him. 2 But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles was near,3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Even His own brothers did not believe Him? Modern translation: they thought He was a liar!! Jesus couldn't get beyond the doubt of His brothers, but His focus was not on His earthly family. Jesus was focused on the mission at hand, and His earthly family could not stop what His Heavenly Father had sent Him to do.
I knew a man who God had called to do great work for Him, and the only holdback for him was his family. They could not understand why He would take such a radical course in His life to follow Jesus. They tried to stop him at every turn, and he only got encouragement from people impacted by his calling. Jesus spoke about the cost of being a disciple in Luke 14, and in these verses, He brings to mind what it takes to go on this course of action. Luke 14: 25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
Jesus spoke these words knowing full well that His family did not believe in Him. To all who would follow Him He gave an explanation of the cost. Your family may not understand the depth of God's call on your life. Your family may not believe your call is sincere and true. What do you do? You keep on serving the One who called you, and you never look back. That is what Jesus did, and the following verses show the extent to which you may be doubted and even criticized, as Jesus was by His family. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. It is a tall order, but a Godly one, so honor those who have committed their lives to follow Jesus no matter what!! They truly know The Cost!
Today's Message,
David Warren
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