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APRIL 20
Luke 14:25–35 him, saying, ‘This man began to build and
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was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to
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25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And
He turned and said to them, “If anyone make war against another king, does not sit
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down first and consider whether he is able
comes to Me and does not hate his father and with ten thousand to meet him who comes
mother, wife and children, brothers and sis- against him with twenty thousand? Or else,
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ters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be while the other is still a great way off, he
My disciple. And whoever does not bear his sends a delegation and asks conditions of
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cross and come after Me cannot be My disci- peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not
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ple. For which of you, intending to build a forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
tower, does not sit down first and count the 34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its fla-
cost, whether he has enough to finish it— vor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit
35
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lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw
not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
DAY 19: How deep of a commitment does Christ ask of His followers?
From the teaching in Luke 14:25–35, it is clear that Christ’s aim was not to gather appreciative
crowds, but to make true disciples. He never adapted His message to majority preferences, but
always plainly declared the high cost of discipleship. Here He made several bold demands that
would discourage the halfhearted.
“Hate”(v.26).A similar statement in Matthew 10:37 is the key to understanding this difficult com-
mand.The “hatred” called for here is actually a lesser love. Jesus was calling His disciples to cultivate
such a devotion to Him that their attachment to everything else—including their own lives—would
seem like hatred by comparison.See 16:13;Genesis 29:30,31 for similar usages of the word “hate.”
“Bear his cross”(v.27).I.e.,willingly.This parallels the idea of hating one’s own life in v.26.“Count
the cost” (v. 28). The multitudes were positive but uncommitted. Far from making it easy for them
to respond positively, He set the cost of discipleship as high as possible and encouraged them to
do a careful inventory before declaring their willingness to follow.
“Forsake all”(v.33).Only those willing to carefully assess the cost and invest all they had in His
kingdom were worthy to enter. This speaks of something far more than mere abandonment of
one’s material possessions. It is an absolute, unconditional surrender. His disciples were permitted
to retain no privileges and make no demands.They were to safeguard no cherished sins, treasure
no earthly possessions, and cling to no secret self-indulgences.Their commitment to Him must be
without reservation.

The clouds also poured water;
5 The mountains gushed before the LORD,
April 20 This Sinai, before the LORD God
of Israel.
6
Judges 5:1–6:40 “In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
In the days of Jael,
Then Deborah and Barak the son of The highways were deserted,
5 Abinoam sang on that day, saying: And the travelers walked along the
“When leaders lead in Israel,
2 byways.
7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel,
When the people willingly offer
themselves, Until I, Deborah, arose,
Bless the LORD! Arose a mother in Israel.
8 They chose new gods;
“Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! Then there was war in the gates;
3
I, even I, will sing to the LORD; Not a shield or spear was seen among
I will sing praise to the LORD God forty thousand in Israel.
of Israel. 9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel
“LORD, when You went out from Seir,
4 Who offered themselves willingly with
When You marched from the field the people.
of Edom, Bless the LORD!
The earth trembled and the heavens 10 “Speak, you who ride on white
poured, donkeys,

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