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Reading: Luke 14:25-35
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
We’re sharing once again this passage of Scripture, the same that we read last time. In that reading, we talked of the cost of following Jesus. Are we willing to pay it?
The last section of this passage is striking. Jesus states that salt is good but that it will be discarded if it loses its flavor; for it no longer has a reason to exist. In those days, salt was used to give flavor in food and even in agriculture (if it was not as good quality as to season the food). But if it is no longer useful, what is done with it? It is thrown out.
Let us note that this phrase begins with a “therefore”, that is, that the meaning of this expression is found in the previous sentence.
What does it mean to be salt in this context? Read a few words before: it means being willing to leave everything to follow Christ.
If we are not willing to leave EVERYTHING for the sake of Christ, we are not fit for the kingdom.
It’s hard, because we all have little things we like to hold on to. The Bible calls them idols.
Let us not misinterpret it, God does not call us to despise our family, or to live as beggars, but to love Him above all. For the best way to love all other things is to love Jesus first.
MEDITATE: The Kingdom of God is precious, and its King is sublime. As Romans 11:36 says, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” To Him be the glory!
Translation By: Emily Stader
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