167th Post Jesus Said on Commitment Con't - Matthew 5: 13 ; 10: 37 - 38

Matthew 5: 13; 10: 37 -38; Mark 9: 50
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
This passage comes about 1.1/2 years into Jesus earthly ministry from the Sermon on the Mount.
This is a hard passage because it states just how serious God is about you following Him. First when reading the Bible, you have to remember that this is God's Word, and God does not contradict Himself. He tells you in Exodus to Honor your Father and Mother, in Genesis He tells us to Love our Spouse. On the surface, this looks like a contradiction, it is not. Jesus was making a point, as to how your commitments should be arranged. God is a jealous God, and will not share top billing with anything. If you are to follow Him, He must be the most important thing in your life! If He is not, then you are splitting your attention between Him and something, or someone else. God wants your whole attention first, then you can take care of your family, and others, work etc. When Jesus talks about bearing your cross and following, it means everyday, without question. Christ worked for His Father 7 days a week, 24 hours a day; to be called a Christian means "Christ Like", also a 7 day 24 hour commitment. This is the walk, your talk is supposed to model, if it does not, then you know where to make changes. Some of you might say "If I witness at work I could get fired." There is witnessing and there is witnessing. St. Augustine was said to have said when they gave him his position as Cardinal and Professorship at Hippo; "I can teach, and talk too!" We seem to forget that our actions are the truest Sermon, we can preach. I don't think anyone can be fired for acting like a Christian, and this can be accomplished without talking, can you believe it. This should not be an Epiphany, but something you are already doing. If not, its a place to start. How is your walk??