April 18,2014: Choices

Luke 14:25-35

Amplified Bible (AMP)

25 Now huge crowds were going along with [Jesus], and He turned and said to them,

26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters—[yes] and even his own life also—he cannot be My disciple.

27 Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.

28 For which of you, wishing to build a farm building, does not first sit down and calculate the cost [to see] whether he has sufficient means to finish it?

29 Otherwise, when he has laid the foundation and is unable to complete [the building], all who see it will begin to mock and jeer at him,

30 Saying, This man began to build and was not able (worth enough) to finish.

31 Or what king, going out to engage in conflict with another king, will not first sit down and consider and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand [men] to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 And if he cannot [do so], when the other king is still a great way off, he sends an envoy and asks the terms of peace.

33 So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.

34 Salt is good [an excellent thing], but if salt has lost its strength and has become saltless (insipid, flat), how shall its saltness be restored?

35 It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure heap; men throw it away. He who has ears to hear, let him listen and consider and comprehend by hearing!

Disciples who don't live like disciples are worth as much as unworthy salt! Nothing!

What does it mean to live like a disciple? Follow His perfect will for my life. Sacrifice ALL. Use the gifts He has given me for His kingdom. 
If I'm a singer, I must sing! For Him! Sitting on the pew and not singing is exactly like worthless salt. Good for nothing. 
If I'm a confident communicator, I must speak! Or write! If I'm not using this gift, or waiting for some day in the future when my life is not so complicated, I am worthless. What does God do with worthless stuff? Throw it out. 
If I'm a songwriter, I must use my gift! Or I will be cast out to be burned.
These are hard words, but true. 

Matthew 3:12-14

Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out. 

Luke 14:27 Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.
Is going to church 3 times a week perservering and carrying my cross? Is having a 15 minute quiet time with God every morning perservering and carrying my cross? Not according to today's scripture reading. I must count the cost and choose who I will serve. If I don't give my all to Jesus Christ now, I am, by default, choosing to give my all to satan later.

31 Or what king, going out to engage in conflict with another king, will not first sit down and consider and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand [men] to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

"In the case of potential war, the situation is forced on the king. Only a foolish king would try to take on a stronger foe when he is outnumbered two to one. So it is prudent to seek peace with the stronger foe. There is a "more powerful one" than Satan to deal with in life: God. It is wise to count the cost of facing him. There are benefits in allying ourselves with God rather than having him as the decidedly stronger enemy." IVP commentary
"Dear Jesus, I choose YOU. NOW. I want to give my ALL. I want to take up my cross and follow You all the way to my death. I must. I'd rather serve You now than to face You later! You will separate the sheep and the goats! 

Matthew 25:31-46

Amplified Bible (AMP)

31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory (His majesty and splendor), and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

32 All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them [the people] from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats;

33 And He will cause the sheep to stand at His right hand, but the goats at His left.

34 Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomedand entertained and lodged Me,

36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me [d]with help andministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me.

37 Then the just and upright will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink?

38 And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You?

39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You?

40 And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me.

41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

42 For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,

43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me [f]with help and ministering care.

44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?

45 And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me.

46 Then they will go away into eternal punishment, but those who are just and upright and in right standing with God into eternal life.

I choose YOU, Jesus! I will serve You! I want to be a worthy disciple! You are my Savior. You gave Your ALL. I choose to give my ALL. I love You. I will serve You. Thank You, dear Jesus for Your ultimate Sacrifice for me. You are worthy of my all! Praise Your mighty name! AMEN."