Lent is a time when many people deny themselves a want or necessity with the intention of using the void to focus on their spiritual walk. Once Easter arrives and passes, those same people again partake of that which they had denied themselves.
In this passage, Jesus is talking about giving up things for His sake that go beyond a forty day fasting period. When we truly decide to follow Him, we often have to give up things, sometimes voluntarily or even involuntarily.
When we decide to make Christ Lord of our life, we sometimes lose friendships or even family relationships because such associations can be harmful to our spiritual walk. Those people may not understand the change that has taken place. While we are called to love everyone, we are also told to guard our hearts so that we remain strong in our walk. We can no longer participate in activities that could potentially separate us from God. Why would we want to? Once we experience the fullness of Christ, why would we want to indulge in anything that could rob us of that joy?
However, even if we lose friends or family because we follow Christ, we will be rewarded. Whatever we lose for His sake, we will receive back in abundance. I have had to make a choice to sever ties with others at times because our walks were just not on the same path. While disappointing, there comes a time we must examine the situation and realize that the relationship is not moving toward God but rather away.
My prayer is that I don't lose friends or family because I follow Christ, but that I bring them along with me. My hope is that I can share my faith and life in such a way that I gain friends and family for God all along the way. In having said that, I am only a messenger, the choice is ultimately up to the hearer.
