Our daily reflections follow the M'Cheyne Bible reading plan, designed for those who want to read the whole Bible in one year. Each reflection focuses on one of the chapters from that day's readings. Darllenwch rhain yn Gymraeg.
Lord, thank you for your word. Help me to listen. Help me to trust. Help me to act.
By the time Luke wrote his account, the Gospel message had begun to spread and cause controversy. Imagine a Jewish convert hanging out with the Jesus sect on a Sunday, suggesting to his family that yesterday’s Sabbath worship was no longer good enough. Or imagine a pagan convert suddenly refusing to join her loved ones in sacrificing to the gods.
No wonder then that in this middle section of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus keeps coming back to the cost of discipleship:
‘Do you suppose that I came to bring peace to the world? No, not peace, but division’ (verse 51).
‘I assure you that those who declare publicly that they belong to me, the Son of Man will do the same for them before the angels of God’ (verse 8).
‘Those who come to me cannot be my disciples unless they love me more than they love father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and themselves as well.’ (Luke 14.26)
Jesus simply wanted folk to be realistic about the impact his message would have on an unreceptive world. There would be times when his followers had to choose him over everyone and everything else.
In that wider context, today’s reading makes perfect sense. The Parable of the Rich Fool contrasts counting the coins with counting the cost: you can’t be a disciple of Christ and put your business or comfort first. Faith in Jesus is either all or nothing.
Lord, give me the desire and the strength to follow you wholeheartedly.
This reflection was written by Michael Pfundner, Bible Society's Publishing Support Manager
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