[Luke 14:25-35 KJV] “And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”
“Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”
“Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
One of the misinterpreted scriptures and concepts of the Bible is the need to have a vision. Every child of God must have only one vision: a vision and an intention to be like Jesus; a disciple of Jesus Christ. Everything else we do must sink in to this vision and purpose. This is why Jesus Christ came: that He might be the firstborn born among many brethren. (See Romans 8:28-32)
Intending to be like Jesus or to be a disciple is like intending to build a tower or to go to war with an army of ten thousand against a king with an army of twenty thousand. It will require;
- Resources: Time, people, materials, technology
- Strategy: Budgeting, planning, organising
- Fortitude: You must last, be consistent, and persist, salt is good but if you loose your saltiness, you will become good for nothing
There are five things you must do before every new year; these are the things that will keep you on track and get you going strong and good.
- Retreat and remember
- Give thanks for how far you have come, even if all you have is just life
- Appraise: 5 areas you ought to appraise are your spiritual life, mental and emotional health, bodily well-being, your network, and work; these are the five dimension of life
- Purge
- Project and strategize
Because when we gather on 31st December we are not coming to make resolution; we are gathering to;
- Thank and acknowledge the Lord
- Commit our ways to the Lord; we don’t want to lean on our understanding
- Draw strength for the journey
Stay blessed
