Balance?

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”—Jesus

Balance.

That's what most people today say you need in your life. "You don't want to be too fanatical. So maintain a good balance of serving God and serving your own desires. That's what it takes to maintain a healthy, happy life," they say.

Looking at the context in Luke chapter 9, Jesus had previously been speaking to His disciples, preparing to send out the twelve, to preach the Gospel. Then He met with Herod. After that He fed the five thousand. Following this, Jesus was alone praying, and His disciples came and joined Him. Jesus then said to them all:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)

I heard a message several years ago about the difference between a disciple, and the multitude.

A disciple is a student, or more accurately, an apprentice. An apprentice often lived with his master, learning from him every day, observing what he did and taught, then doing the same. Learning by doing life together. Learning by his masters example. He usually spent years in an apprenticeship until he was ready to go out on his own. The disciples Jesus called left everything to follow Him.

The multitude in the gospels came to Jesus for healing, food, and blessings. But after they got what they needed, many went back to where they lived. Many turned away from Jesus when He spoke something difficult that challenged them. They didn't follow Jesus everywhere, every day, calling Him Lord. They were basically only after the benefits He offered. But few left everything to follow Him.

The more I read about the life and teachings of Jesus, He presents Himself as an all or nothing Savior. You can't serve both God and riches. You either serve Him, or serve the Devil. You're either walking in darkness, or in His light. You either repent, believe in Him, get born again, and follow Him. Or you remain in darkness, dead in your sins, awaiting the harsh judgment of God. You'll either spend a blissful eternity with Him, or be forever banished from Him into outer darkness and fiery torment. You're either hot, or cold. The lukewarm, He said, He will vomit out of His mouth (See Revelation 3:14-16)

The following passage has always been particularly challenging to me:

“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27, 33)

The biblical word translated as "forsake" here means to "quit or leave entirely, with no intention to return to."

A guy I used to go to church with many years ago tried to tell me, "Well, I think what Jesus was really trying to say here, is you just need to be willing to give up everything for Him, and then He'll show you what you can keep, and what you should give up." 

Really?  

As if Jesus, the Lord of Glory Himself, full of all knowledge and wisdom, the fullness of the godhead dwelling in Him bodily, isn't really sure what He's saying, and is somehow struggling...trying to find the right words. 

You should prayerfully seek to make proper life application from the Scriptures.

But to imply Jesus didn't really mean what He said?  Be careful. You're on very dangerous ground when you try to put words in Jesus' mouth, or claim He didn't really mean what He said. And while there is certainly some allegory and symbolic language in the Bible, it is the Word of Truth. People have led many believers astray over the years by giving private interpretations to the Word of God, or relegating the literal Word to allegorical nonsense. This is where heresies such as "replacement theology" come from, the anti-Semitic lie that claims "God is done with the nation of Israel, and has given all their promises to the Gentiles, and has forever cast away His people Israel." Lean not on your own understanding.

This is why it is so critical to always test all men's words, writings, opinions, doctrines, by the immutable Word of God. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

So the question I have often asked myself, and am asking again, is, am I truly being a disciple of Jesus?

Or just part of the multitude?

I'll leave it at that.

You have to ask and answer that question for yourself.

But as for me, I want to be all-in for Jesus, as His disciple, and not be just part of the multitude who only seek His gifts and benefits. 

I love You Lord Jesus—please help me to be more like You. I am not ashamed of You or the Gospel.

—God is Love and Love Never Fails.