SOME HARD TRUTHS

DAY 119

John 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

What is easier to receive: complements or criticism? Which is easier to give: good news or bad news? Whenever we explore the walk of the Christian, we would realise that if the paths along that journey could be handpicked, the buffet on offer will surely include only things like crowns and roses without crosses, or joy without tears.

That carefully selected menu, which will characterise our walk, will include everything that makes our journey beautiful and guarantees that nothing throws a spanner in the works. That was the kind of thing the disciples were expecting until Jesus laid down the gauntlet and dropped some hard truths about what being a real follower entailed. This was the trigger for today’s verse with many of the disciples confessing ‘This is a hard saying; who can hear it?’

Yet, the fact that some disciples remained meant there were those who could actually take those hard sayings. Beloved, a walk with Jesus has rewards, both in time, and after time. But, it isn’t a breeze in the park as we might think it to be – it will require adherence to some ‘hard sayings’ and include thorns before crowns, stretching before success and forming before lifting.

However, those who remain clinging to the end, are those who will truly become.

#sly