Luke 14:16-26 (NIV)__________________________________________________________
The Parable of the Great Banquet
16 Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'
19 "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'
20 "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'
21 "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
22 " 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
23 "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple.
Lord I was confused after reading this passage. Why do I have to hate the people who are close to me in order to be Jesus' disciple? I mean, it's so natural that I'll love my parents, my brother, my friends, and of course love myself!
But ultimately, You showed me the way. You're not telling me to hate them, but You're telling me not to let them compete with You in my heart, for that will affect my spiritual life.
Thank You Father for showing me that once I surrender myself to You, love You completely, this spiritual love will naturally extend out to love others. Lord indeed Your ways are higher than my ways, and so I commit myself to You Lord, to love You, completely.
Guide me Father. I know I'm weak. Strengthen me O Lord, so that even though I'm weak, people will say that I'm strong, and I can boast that it's You who have strengthened me.
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