To Be A Disciple

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26 ESV

A man’s life is a moment of brevity. In it, he might find a warm family: a father, a mother, a wife, children, brothers and sisters.

And, to be a disciple of Christ, a true disciple, we are being called to hate that which has been given to us?

Now, of course, if we are so blessed to have such a family, we love them. Here, what Jesus is telling us is to love God so much more. We are called to love God to such a point that our love for everyone else looks like hatred by comparison.

What if Jesus asked, rather, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate the devil, he cannot be My disciple?” The answer would be simple.

But He says “family.” And “[my] own life.” Those things on earth I love most.

How do we know if we love God in this way?

We can take a note from the psalmist:

“I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy…because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.” (Psalm 116:1-2 NLT)

Spend time with the Lord. Be in communion with Him. Invite him in all that you do, listening for his voice. In so doing, our selfish gains will fall to the wayside and his masterful works will fill our lives.

Brian Jackson is President and CEO of Mighty Missouri Coffee Co., a coffee roasting company and cafe located in North Dakota, where he swims, bikes, runs, and does everything else he can to be outside. His faith journey has led him from adventures in the out-of-doors to adventures in entrepreneurism, and through it all he hopes his life points to someone greater.