Day Five - HATE!

Luke 14:25-26
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them He said, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciples.

When I first started reading this DARE, I got images of “The Grinch”. There’s this scene where Jim Carey (as the Grinch) is standing outside the front door of his cave and he starts reading the phone book names and yelling out, “I hate you!”


Our God is a jealous God. He wants our reverence, 100%, undivided, devoted to HIM. If we have any ONE or any THING that we love more than Him, HE is jealous! Our pastor just preached on the first 3 commandments. He spoke of our need, God’s desire for REVERENCE. Anything that we put before God is an IDOL. We may not worship statues, stars or the sun, but that THING we place before God is an IDOL. And anything we idolize takes away and distracts us from the ONE TRUE God.

A few year’s back, I was at a praise/worship night somewhere in Upstate NY. During the evening, God asked me to put my sneakers on the altar. I remember a 45-minute battle between me and God over sneakers! It showed me one thing, anything can be a distraction – even a pair of sneakers. (I did eventually put the sneakers on the altar, as God had asked. Left the building barefoot).

From today’s DARE, I am challenged to search my heart and see if there is any ONE or any THING that I have more love than for God. I can’t let anything keep me from living out the call that God has on my life. I can’t let work, family or friends (sneakers) distract me from being a TRUE disciple of Christ.

If it takes away my focus from God…I HATE IT!

*If you're looking for a great resource to help you in your discipleship journey, check-out Jess Bousa's book, "The Discipleship Dare".  Join me on this DARE.  Check it out at www.thediscipleshipdare.com.