Revelations 22:12-21

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Read Revelations 22:12-21 Verses for meditation: Revelations 22:12-13, 16, 20-21 ESV: 12 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. Reflect How does it feel to be reading the very last few verses of the bible? What do the proclamations, the last few of them, say about Christ? Come, Lord Jesus! Does this really express our desire? How does the greatest book end, and on what note? But is this really the end? Relate With mixed feelings, I'm writing this last devotion based on the final ten verses of the greatest book, the bible. What a journe...
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Luke 14 - 15 "You need not hate your family"

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READ: Luke 14-15.

Verses chosen for meditation: Luke 14: 26-27.

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters - yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

 

REFLECT

Large crowd followed Jesus when He walked this earth. (Luke 14:25). But Jesus was looking for disciples. The demand of discipleship by Jesus in Luke 14: 25-35 is often misunderstood. The crucial tension from this demand lies in Jesus’ call that requires every disciple to hate those whom He elsewhere commands us to love. Indeed, the demand to “hate” your loved ones is a costly and uncomfortable one.

The mention “to carry your own cross” (v.27, cf Matt 16:24) probably horrified Jesus’ listeners further as cross reminded them of Romans’ cruelty in punishment. But this phrase somehow gets our attention as it emphasizes the seriousness of the subject Jesus is teaching about.

To carefully measure the cost of following Him, Jesus gave two other stories as in the building of a tower and going to war with another king. Jesus then asked, “Won’t you first sit down and calculate the cost...?” (v. 28).

 

RELATE

So, to be His disciples, does Jesus really mean for us to “hate” our loved ones? Jesus’ point was that we are not called to literally hate our family but meant only in a comparative sense. Rather, it is that we must choose Him over everything else. Furthermore, Jesus gave emphasis to forsake (the idea “to say goodbye to”) everything that are dearest to us (v. 26b, v.33).

Perhaps, let’s first try to understand the word “hate”. Interpreting from OT account of Jacob, Rachel and Leah in Genesis 29, the word, “hated” (vv. 31, 33) can mean “unloved”. To be hated here is to be loved less than another. Another sense of “hate” is also found in Exodus 20 (v.5), whereby God commanded Israel not to have other gods and love them above Yahweh.

Inevitably, family duties can make many demands on a person that can distract (cf. I Cor 7:29-35; married life’ responsibility) with discipleship. Jesus has dealt with the matter of duty to family in Luke 9:57- 62. In this context, to “hate” means “to love less than”. To be His disciples means that we have to love Jesus more than family and everything else, with all our hearts, souls, mind and strength.

Practically, it means for us to forsake any “competing loves”, be it hobbies, possessions, or careers but re-prioritise our “loves” for Jesus. Rather, it means for us to put priorities right. It means for us to put our hands to the plow, don’t’ look back (cf. Luke 9:62) and be committed to pour ourselves out as a living sacrifice (cf. 2 Tim 4:6; Roams 12:1). All in all, Jesus must take centre stage and priority above all else, at every season and every aspect of our lives.

Friends, Jesus was not looking like many today who do “Christian things” outwardly such as go to church, pray, sing Christian songs, etc but are not fully committed to Him (not denying that these Christian disciplines are unimportant). Contrary, Jesus wants unreserved commitment from us, like the commitment to complete the building of a tower (vv. 28-30). Above all, there is no contradiction in His "demand".

Certainly, it does cost something to be disciples of Jesus. But it costs more to reject Him. In carrying our own cross daily, His Holy Spirit enables us with divine strength to guide us when we have to choose between Jesus or other priorities.

 

REST

Lord Jesus, please help me to be Your disciple every day. In His Mighty Name, I pray. Amen.

Vincent

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