“I was thinking I’d blacken some mahi for dinner,” I told my husband. I’d spent the morning with our son’s family while he played tournament golf with our son. I hadn’t realized that their lunch was provided and had been served after their round ended, only an hour or so earlier. He certainly wouldn’t want another big meal today.
Sensing his dilemma, I responded, “That’s no problem. The mahi will keep for dinner tomorrow. How about a smoothie instead?” We have a growing list of snack suppers containing peanut butter that are light but include some fruit and protein. Peanut butter and banana sandwiches with a little mayonnaise and oatmeal with peanut butter and fresh diced apples stirred in are also favorites. I spice either up with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice and a drizzle of hot honey. Our aging bodies don’t require three square meals a day anymore and since my cancer surgeries, I’m better off eating largely at home where I have control over what goes into my dishes.
If you are primarily responsible for the meal planning and preparation in your home, you know that sometimes the biggest challenge is deciding what to make and a close second is not slipping into a rut. Having a list of favorites to rotate through helps. I enjoy variety in my diet more than my husband but at the end of the day, we eat regularly and are well nourished. Choices are nice but even if we don’t really want what we have on hand, tomorrow is a new day and there is no shortage of grocery stores within in a few miles of our house. I keep a running list of items to purchase in the kitchen by the coffee maker. I try not to let things run out entirely but it happens.
Many of life’s choices, like what to eat or what to wear, are nominal but some choices are weighty and far-reaching. We do our research before investing our money. Before we buy or build a home, we consult builders, bankers, realtors, and attorneys. We monitor interest rates and shifts in the economy which drive the price of materials. We exercise the same sort of care when considering marriage, a career path, starting a family, or a major move. We don’t make these decisions lightly because we recognize their sweeping effects. One decision affects every other and carries eternal consequences. The choice to follow Jesus trumps all other choices, indeed determines them.
“As massive crowds followed Jesus, he turned to them and said, “When you follow me as my disciple, you must put aside your father, your mother, your wife, your sisters, your brothers; it will even seem as though you hate your own life.
This is the price you’ll pay to be considered one of my followers.
Anyone who comes to me must be willing to share my cross and experience it as his own, or he cannot be considered to be my disciple.
So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you.
For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it?
Otherwise he may lay the foundation and not be able to finish.
The neighbors will ridicule him, saying, ‘Look at him! He started to build but couldn’t complete it!’
Likewise, unless you surrender all to me, giving up all you possess, you cannot be one of my disciples.”
Luke 14:25-30, 33 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/luk.14.26-33.TPT
“As you passionately seek his kingdom, above all else, he will supply your needs.
Where you deposit your treasure, that is where you fix your thoughts—and your heart will long to be there also.””
Luke 12:31, 34 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/luk.12.31-34.TPT
The Orthodox Jewish Bible further clarifies Jesus’s meaning. “So, then, none of you can become my talmid if you do not renounce all your [idolatrous] holdings.”
Lukas 14:33 TOJB2011
https://bible.com/bible/130/luk.14.33.TOJB2011
Talmid, a student or disciple, must put aside, renounce, or surrender all personal claim to anyone and anything, even denying himself, to follow his Master. Considering anyone or anything above Jesus is idolatrous. Jesus prefaced this command with an invitation in the form of a story.
“Jesus replied with this parable: “A man invited many to join him in a great feast.
When the day for the feast arrived, the host instructed his servant to notify all the invited guests and tell them, ‘Come, for everything is now ready for you!’
But one by one they all made excuses.
One said, ‘I can’t come. I just bought some property and I have to go and look it over.’
Another said, ‘Please accept my regrets, for I just purchased five teams of oxen and I need to make sure they can pull the plow.’
Another one said, ‘I can’t come because I just got married.’
The servant reported back to the host and told him of all their excuses.
The master became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go at once throughout the city and invite anyone you find—the poor, the blind, the disabled, the hurting, and the lonely.
Invite them to my banquet.’
When the servant returned to his master, he said, ‘Sir, I have done what you asked, but there’s still room for more.’
So the master told him, ‘All right. Go out again, and this time bring them all back with you.
Persuade the beggars on the streets, the outcasts, even the homeless.
Insist that they come in and enjoy the feast so that my house will be full.’
I say to you all, no one who receives an invitation to feast with me and makes excuses will ever enjoy my banquet.””
Luke 14:16-24 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/luk.14.16-24.TPT
“The only way people come to me is by the Father who sent me—he pulls on their hearts to embrace me.
And those who are drawn to me, I will certainly raise them up in the last day.”
Jesus continued, “It has been written by the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God himself.’
If you are really listening to the Father and learning directly from him, you will come to me.”
John 6:44-45 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.6.44-45.TPT
“But everyone my Father has given to me, they will come.
And all who come to me, I will embrace and will never turn them away.
My Father who sent me has determined that I will not lose even one of those he has given to me, and I will raise them up in the last day.
For the longing of my Father is that everyone who embraces the Son and believes in him will experience eternal life and I will raise them up in the last day!””
John 6:37, 39-40 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.6.37-40.TPT
“For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?
And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him?
And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?
That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”
Romans 10:13-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.10.13-17.NLT
“For this reason, beloved ones, be eager to confirm and validate that God has invited you to salvation and claimed you as his own.
If you do these things, you will never stumble.
I won’t hesitate to continually remind you of these truths, even though you are aware of them and are well established in the present measure of truth you have already embraced.
And as long as I live I will continue to awaken you with this reminder,”
2 Peter 1:10, 12-13 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/2pe.1.10-13.TPT
“For it will be like it was in the days of Noah when the Son of Man appears.
Before the flood, people lived their lives eating, drinking, marrying, and having children.
They didn’t realize the end was near until Noah entered the ark, and then suddenly, the flood came and took them all away in judgment.
It will happen the same way when the Son of Man appears.
This is why you must stay alert: because no one knows the day your Lord will come.”
Matthew 24:37-39, 42 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.24.37-42.TPT
For now, God’s invitation stands. You may face many pressing decisions, but not one comes close to this one. Jesus asked His first followers, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.
You are the Son of the living God.””
Matthew 16:13-16 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/mat.16.13-16.NIRV
“Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed.
Blessed are those who have not seen me but still have believed.””
John 20:28-29 NIRV
A Fitting Reply 