The Disciple and His Conditions. Luke 14:31-35 It is vital for all believers to heed the call to obey and not turn back, because the cost of disobedience to the Lord is far greater than the cost of following Him. The Lord’s command may sound to some new in the faith as if He wants us to have nothing left, to be impoverished. When we read and meditate on this passage of scripture, what is taught here is that everyone who follows Christ must relinquish whatever stands in the way of wholeheartedly following Him. We should neither overestimate nor underestimate the conditions of discipleship.
Abraham, Moses, and others in the Old Testament scriptures, along with the apostles in the New Testament, exemplify those who deliberately chose to follow Christ by faith, even when they were unaware of what lay ahead. These individuals continue to be honored and respected after all these years, and their memory is cherished because they were willing to obey God and fulfill the necessary conditions.
Without struggle, warfare, and hostility directed at a disciple, Christianity can sometimes become a weak and useless commitment. We live in a world that is hostile to our Lord, which should be expected by those who follow Him. Imagined service for God, blended into the world to avoid being perceived as intolerant or bigoted, often seeks to evade the cost of standing up for our Lord Jesus Christ and His word. Such service is like salt, which has become a tasteless residue of what it should be.
When Christians lack distinctiveness and saltiness, their testimony becomes ineffective. Worthless salt has no purpose; even inferior salt can be used in a manure pile and may benefit the soil. Salt that has lost its flavor is utterly valueless. To preserve what is suitable for our Lord and to authentically flavor our Christianity in the world requires a commitment that is not temporary. Discipleship involves sacrifices made willingly and planned to fulfill our commitment.
The Lord summarized the entire matter in a straightforward phrase in verse thirty-five. We all have ears and can hear what the word of God teaches us. The big question is, do I desire to obey what the Lord tells me? If I don’t, I will be like a pile of worthless salt and a dead branch on a tree. If I am willing to follow Him as a disciple, I will be used in bad times and good as a privileged servant of God.
LUKE 15 THREE STORIES WITH ONE POINT The Holy Spirit moved Luke to write this parable that reveals the Perfect Man who loves every person. It is a crucial and special duty for us to ensure that sinners understand their value to God. In Luke’s Gospel, the word “sinners” appears eighteen times; in the other Gospels, it is used only fifteen times. This aligns with the theme of Luke’s Gospel, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” The Perfect Man came to save imperfect men and women who were lost in their sins. Most people are as helpless as a sheep lost in the wilderness, as useless as a coin on the floor in the darkness of a dark room, and as hopelessly lost and alone as a son in a far country.
This parable diverges from the conventional discussions of the Pharisees and teachers of the law to focus on unconventional meals with social and religious outcasts, who were deemed to have no value as individuals. It also provides a glimpse into the future regarding who will be seated at the table of the Messiah when He comes to earth and hosts a banquet. Etiquette is not a concern there, but God’s salvation is. Only those who know Him personally will be at that table of blessing. No one will be present who is not saved by grace alone. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and that is the point of this parable. It reveals what God has done for those who are lost.
Jesus demonstrated God’s care for every individual in this parable, not just for the religious community as a whole. We enter the kingdom of God as individuals who personally trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The central message of these three stories is that we will learn just how important and valuable every person is to God. No matter who they are or what they have done, God knows their potential and values them more than the entire material world. There is hope for the proud Pharisees and scribes if they will repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why the Lord Jesus focused His attention on them in this parable. There is hope for them just as there is for the publicans and sinners. Those who identify with the helpless, worthless, and hopeless, like the lost sheep, coin, and son, will discover that God loves them. No one is unloved as an individual, although God hates their sin. It is due to their sin that they will be rejected if they reject His love and forgiveness. A person is lost because of their own choice, not because God doesn’t love them.