Grant, What translation is this from/ Just curious. <smile> Thanks much. Blessings, Pat Ferguson At 06:09 PM 10/15/2010, you wrote: > luke 14:25. Now, many crowds were journeying along with Him. And > having turned around, He said to them, 26 If anyone comes to me and > does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and > brothers and sisters in the event that they become hindrances to > his supreme love for me, yes, moreover also his own life in the > same manner, he is not able to be my disciple. 27 And whoever is > not taking up and carrying his own cross and coming after me, is > not able to be my disciple. 28 For, who is there of you, desiring > to build a tower, does not first, having seated himself, compute > the expense, whether he has sufficient resources for its > completion, 29 lest perchance, having laid the foundation and not > being able to complete it entirely, all who examine it with a view > to carefully observing its details should begin to be mocking, 30 > saying, This man began building operations and did not have > sufficient resources to complete them entirely? -- Wuest > >I think John Schwery pretty well nailed it when he said that it >relates to the importance of God having first place in our life and >thinking. We tend to associate emotions with the words "love" and >"hate". Ask yourself, What is the absence of love? Comparatively >speaking, it is hate. > >Another concept we read about in the Bible is idolatry. Anything >that is more important in our life than God is an idol. That means >that we selfishly sacrifice our relationship to God for family, >things, personal advantage or men's praise. When we do that are we >not hating God in a sense? > >Speaking of which, what about the statement in First John 4"20? If >anyone says, I am constantly loving God, and is as constantly hating >his brother, he is a liar. For the one who is not constantly loving >his brother whom he has seen with discernment and at present has >within the range of his vision, God whom he has not seen with >discernment and at present does not have within the range of his >vision he is not able to be loving. > >The first passage is speaking of discipleship and the extent of the >commitment required, whereas, the second passage is speaking of the >reality in practical Christian living. Both relate to one's >relationship to God but in different areas. The first asks, How >committed are you? The second asks the question, How real is your >day-to-day Christian life? > >Contrasts are found throughout Scripture. We must recognize them for >what they are and interpret them within the context where they are >found. In that period of time in the Gospels, most of the crowd did >not believe or commit themselves to Jesus (cf John 6:66). Today, we >asked the question of those in the crowd, "Will you believe that >Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again the third day?" >Sad to say, most will not commit themselves to that life saving >principle. Consequently, they hate God, even though they may like >church and talk about religious things. > >Thus, we first have commitment, and then the evidence of reality in >the true believer's life. > >Listening for His shout! > >Grant >Bartimaeus Alliance of the Blind, Inc. >Phone: 650-589-6890 >Magic Jack: 650-754-4207 (when my PC is on) >Email: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask] >Website: <http://bartimaeus.us/>http://bartimaeus.us/ > > > >__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus >signature database 5535 (20101015) __________ > >The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. > ><http://www.eset.com>http://www.eset.com