Saints, Martyrs & Doctors of the Church of England

Friends in Christ,

The Gospel covers what it takes to follow Jesus Christ. A recurring theme has been sacrifice

and how one must be willing to make sacrifices to be a true follower of the Lord.

Sometimes this message is delivered is strong language, when one first hears our Lord say that we must hate our mother and father, wife, children and families to be His disciples, we are quite shocked. We are quite shocked. But then when Jesus says:" We must hate our very lives", then many of us heard these words and walked away, thinking that these sacrifices were too much.

.Did Jesus really mean we should hate our parents, in contradiction with the laws of Moses? Did Jesus really mean that we should hate our lives, while He loved every life he encountered? Perhaps, but the message is much deeper than this. Jesus wanted His followers to realize that the reward–the pearl of great price–was of such value that we must be willing to sacrifice all for it. He also wants His followers to realize that their lives are in constant need of change and conversion and we should hate our sinful selves and strive for holiness. Finally, He knows that material belongings can quickly become idols, drawing our attention away from Him. Yes, the demands are great, but so is the ending. Jesus was very up front in saying that following Him was not easy, but nothing that is worth having is gained without sacrifice.

Amen.

With every good wish in Christ,

Ed Bakker