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NASB | Luke 14:33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Luke 14:33 "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] give up all his own possessions. |
Bible Question: I'm asking a question here. My Pastor preached that the Christian must sacrifice and he quoted about giving up possessions. Some followed until they heard this and could not pay the price. Is such great sacrifice necessary? |
Bible Answer: I would like to share my personal testimony. I believe that Scripture always has to be understood in the context in which it was given. so therefore, you must read Scripture before and after, and since this Scripture was referenced from the Gospels, you must compare Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to fill in the whole picture. Anyway, Jesus did say, if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself, daily, take up his cross and follow me. The heart that has heard the voice of the Good Shepherd is not a heart of this world. Our heart truly has been transformed to that of the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore longs to respond to Him. This heart can not love the world, neither the things that are in the world for all that is in the world is the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. What the world may consider to be a sacrifice, or foolishness, is contrary to what God considers. God considers the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise things and the weak things to confound the mighty. Possessions can come in many different forms. There are the material possessions, there are psychological possessions such as ego, treasuring our mind,; there is spiritual possessions that we must give up - self-gratification, pride, rebellion, right to ourselves, to live as we please, to be self-directed. Possessions can come in people, places, or things. Sometimes a family member stands in the way of our following Christ. Sometimes, it is love of house, car, clothes, money, power. Sometimes it is lust! Actually, anything we desire over Christ, we should consider it to be lusted over. To be a disciple means that there can be no earthly tie that stands between you and the Lord. Remember, Andrew wanted to go back and take care of some business with his family. I have learned that nothing is more important than my relationship with Jesus. I must covet that more than I covet anything in this world. When I find myself in conflict with that, I must find out what that something is immediately, and give it up to God by annihilating it, utterly. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. God is a jealous God. His name is Jealous and He is jealous over you. |