The Way to Follow Jesus According to the Gospel of LukeSample

Day 15 - Luke 17:33-37

The “Unreasonable” Jesus

"If you cling to your life, you will lose it. And if you let your life go, you will save it" – Luke 17:33.

In all of Jesus’ teachings and parables He pushes his hearers to know the truth and live it out. He reveals that the kingdom of God is among us and in us when we receive His Spirit.

If you truly believe that, you will begin to form a different understanding of who God is and how you are affected by these realities. You will be much more spiritually minded and less worldly … more concerned, even impassioned for the ways of God vs. the ways of the world.

You will begin to feel a loosening of your grip and everything that you think brings you significance, security and comfort. Instead you will cling more to the Jesus you claim to follow and become an authentic, radically different disciple who cares more about His kingdom and His ways.

It comes down to a daily "all or nothing" decision which is manifested in your beliefs, thoughts, words and actions. Jesus tells us that it doesn't even take that much faith (mustard seed size) to believe what he says or to do what he does.

Much of what Jesus points to as the obstacles in your way, has to do with your possessions, status and self-centered awareness … all of which can pre-occupy you and determine how you spend your days.

Jesus says that if you keep clinging to all of this, thinking it gives you life, you actually lose it. But if you let go, you will save it.

As you examine the reality of how much you cling to your life versus how much you have surrendered it, where do you stand? Can you truthfully make the claim that you are a disciple of Jesus?