Father God, let this touch someone’s heart in Jesus Precious Name Thank You Amen.
Trusting in the name of the Lord means trusting in His character. He is the Almighty God, righteous, pure, merciful, loving, wise, perfect and full of grace. When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal. God has the power to do anything we could imagine. This is His nature, and He never changes.
“The Cost of Being a Disciple and more about discipleship the crowds that followed Jesus thought he was on the way to a throne. Jesus told them he was on the way to a cross. If they wanted to follow him, they had to understand what his kingdom was like and what his followers could expect. Jesus is surrounded by all the markings of great success because “great crowds” accompanied him. With such popularity, you would have thought that he would do all that he could. Jesus shoots straight and talks straight, and indeed tells the crowd to “count the cost” of following Him. We too are not to use hidden or deceptive means to win followers. We are to avoid manipulation, deceit, worldly cunning, political backbiting, or smooth talking. Jesus did not engage in salesmanship to win people; he spoke the truth. “He who has ears, let him hear. (It reads in Matthew 10:37, may provide the interpretational key to unlock what Jesus means by “hate” here: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Yes, we are to exhibit deep affections for our closest earthly kin, but Jesus is saying we must love even them less than we do him if we would prove to be genuine disciples. Of course, it’s also true that I will love my family and friends well in direct to proportion to the depth of my love for Jesus.) The interpretational key to unlock what Jesus means by “hate” here: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Yes, we are to provide deep affections for our closest earthly family, but Jesus is saying we must love even them less than we do Jesus if we would prove to be authentic disciples. It’s also true that I will love my family and friends well in direct to quantities to the depth of my love for Jesus. I will love Jesus and love like Jesus.)
” It reads in Luke 14:25-35.
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus and turning to them he said: “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. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
This, one of the most beloved chapters of the word of God, is an account of what was probably a single discourse of Jesus Christ, the whole theme of which was “The Lost.” First there was the lost sheep. Jesus concluded the parable with a declaration: “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance”
“The Parable of the Lost Sheep”
It reads in Luke 15:1-7.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Father God, I believe that I may walk in spirit and truth and keep my life in the place of death so that the new life of Christ which I received at salvation, may I grow in grace, mature and shine Your light of love in the faith in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
This second parable Jesus told them also demonstrates God’s attitude toward His people who have strayed from His ways, and who have therefore broken fellowship with Him.
“The Parable of the Lost Coin” It reads in Luke 15:8-10
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
The Parable of the Prodigal Son; is one of Jesus’ best-known parables. In the story, we learn about the relationship between a father and his two sons. The plot centers around the younger son who, impatient and greedy, asks his father for his inheritance. God longs to bring everyone into His kingdom. “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattest calf and kill it. Let’s have a big dinner and celebrate. God celebrates the lost that become found to learn to walk in righteousness. The found need to teach the lost.
“The Parable of the Lost Son” Luke 15:11-32
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
“Let’s Pray”
Father God, thank You that nothing is hidden from You, and You make all right in people’s lives as long as they turn to You. Help me to see the evidence of Your presence and to realize anew Your promises to be with those who keep Your commandments in Jesus Precious Name Amen.
“Power Verse”
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:17 NIV
"Only Life Changes" 