Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

From my devotional reading on April 18:

Luke 14:25-27, Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Multitudes wanted to hang around Jesus, but not truly follow Him. Being a true disciple of Christ is something altogether different.

Do not misunderstand the word "hate" in this Scripture text. The idea here is about priority, not neglect. Two things can be true: You can deeply love and always provide for your family, being present as much as humanly possible, and still put Jesus first. Remember that while Jesus hung on the cross suffering for our sins and preparing to die, He still had the presence of mind to tell John to take care of His mother.

Everyone decides what is priority in their lives. For many, Jesus, as well as things and people related to Christ, is not at the top of their priorities. Church attendance alone has nothing to do with being a disciple of Christ.

Never apologize for maintaining your priorities as a disciple of Christ. You may be misunderstood and even rejected, but your actual deeds will always speak louder than what people think or say.

Always rest in what God knows.

“Jesus Paid It All!”

LISTEN

WATCH

1 Corinthians 15:21, For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”

Join us this weekend at New Covenant Church!

4625 North Keystone Avenue, Indianpolis

www.newcovenant.org

LINK TO PREVIOUS FIRM FOUNDATION INSPIRATION MINUTE TALKS

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Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy

WATCH

From my Old Testament devotional reading from April 11, 2025

1 Samuel 17:38-39, Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.

Saul was worried about David trying to face Goliath, so he tried the loan David his armor. We know that Goliath was some 9 feet tall. Saul was said to be "head and shoulders” above others in height, so he must have been over 6 feet tall. David is characterized as a smaller man, so he was likely under 6 feet tall.

Some thoughts as it relates to our context:

1. Something designed for others won't necessarily work for you.

2. If you go out to face a challenge with someone else's resources (armor), you will fail or the success will be shallow.

3. Develop your own skills and resources with God. (This is what God was doing with David all those solitary nights and days tending sheep and defending them from wild beasts)

4. You may have resources (armor) but you should not trust it more than you trust God.

5. The size of your obstacle has absolutely no bearing on what God will do if you allow Him to develop your skills and your faith.

6. David didn't only have faith in the moment when he faced Goliath, he had skills that came from walking in faith.

7. Take off stuff that is not part of your purpose.

NOTE; From my New Testament devotional reading on April 10

Luke 10:25 (NIV) On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Most “experts” and religious leaders at that time didn’t know what to do with Jesus, so they tested him. To the man’s credit, he knew what the Scriptures said.

The expert asked Jesus how he might receive a BENEFIT, but heard about a RESPONSIBILITY. This is where we find many people today, looking to God for benefits, but not prepared to accept responsibility.

Jesus Christ is THE expert in knowing people! The man accepted the things over which he could have control, but that part about “Love your neighbor as yourself” challenged his status quo.

He asked, “Who is my neighbor?”

The text goes on to state that Jesus told a story about “a certain man” who was injured and needed assistance. A priest and a Levi looked at the injured man, but avoided him. They did not consider him a neighbor worth helping.

Then Jesus stated that it was a Samaritan that ended up loving the injured man like a neighbor. To religious Jews, a Samaritan was THE LAST PERSON one would consider a neighbor.

So, who is YOUR neighbor? He or she is your responsibility.

“When Your King Comes In”

LISTEN

John 12:12, The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!”

LINK TO PREVIOUS FIRM FOUNDATION INSPIRATION MINUTE TALKS

________________

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy