A Fragment of Discomfort?

A dark Muslim stronghold will soon welcome a bold, young Christian family to serve the Lord of Eternal Life - for they have considered their life not their own. Yet as this inspiring family were recently fare-welled I was forced to reflect afresh upon those audacious claims from the Christ of Calvary:

... he who does not give up all he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)

I cannot escape this unrelenting verse, and more-so during the Easter season.

Could these outrageous judgements below also bear a kernel of truth; is there even a fragment of discomfort to be found here?

  • We all want the benefits of the Cross without the burdens of the Cross.
  • We all want the salvation of the Cross without the suffering of the Cross.
  • We all salute the self-deniers, wish them well, even promising to pray and dig deep for them - but do not even briefly consider repeating their example.

There is no easy-believism for those who apprehend the height of grace, the abyss of sin or the torture of Golgotha.

For those who do grasp these, Gethsemane's grief-laden prayer lingers with an increasing divine echo:

... yet not my will but Yours be done. (Luke 22:42b)

Today's Soul Snippet:

"Many have a SAVING faith, not a LIVING faith. Jesus wants us to live all our lives with His name on our lips." ~ P. Morley