Lets Review :-).

 

The Cost Of Being a Disciple

(Emphasis on "Cost")

Luke 14: 25 - 35

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

26 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.

(Thats not exactly everybody :-). There are followers, believers, there were and are, "multitudes" there were the 70 ( Luke 10:1-23), there were the 12,  (Matthew 10) and the inner circle of Peter, John and James, brother of Jesus, known collectively as the Pillars of the Church. (See Revelation 3:12 :-), ought to ring a bell if you've been following along :-). 

Hate not meaning love more than me, 

HELPS Word-studies

3404 miséō – properly, to detest (on a comparative basis); hence, denounce; to love someone or something less than someone (something) else, i.e. to renounce one choice in favor of another.

Lk 14:26: "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate (3404 /miséō, 'love less' than the Lord) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple" (NASU).

[Note the comparative meaning of 3404 (miséō) which centers in moral choice, elevating one value over another.]

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

(Mission get accomplished. Period.)

31 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?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

(Or? In simpler terms from the NIV: "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Period. No buts, no ifs, no nothing, period, end of story. If you're still in need of some type of clarification? See Matthew 19:21-22).

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

(Thats a whole nuther story all in its own :-). 

A different day perhaps but not here today.)

35 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."

Thats several criterion to be a Disciple:

1) Love Christ more than your family.

2) Love Christ more than your own life.

(Vs. 26)

3) Bear your cross and take after him

(Vs 27)

4) Finish what you start

(Vs 28-30)

5) Use a mind of wisdom

(Vs 31-32)

6) Renounce, leave, abandon ALL.

(Vs 33)

Sound like every Christian to you?

Yeah me neither.

Everybody has their spiritual gifts, they morph and change over time. It's our duty to figure out what they are and use them to the fullest extent we can.

And BTW?

Isaiah 6:9

 9And He replied: “Go and tell this people, 

‘Be ever hearing, 

but never understanding; 

be ever seeing, 

but never perceiving.’ 

In regard to vs 35 :-).

I love you honey :-).