Scriptures: Luke 14:25-35
Counting The Cost of Discipleship
Luke 14:25-35
Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. 27 Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple.
28 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build, and wasn’t able to finish.’
31 “Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace.
33 “So therefore whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.”
“Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Good morning family!
Since before Christmas we have been on a journey with Jesus, following his steps through the Gospels.
From the announcement of his birth to the beginning of his ministry with his baptism, then calling his disciples, we have followed his 3 short years of ministry where he went around doing good and the will of the Father. We see his popularity as the crowds followed after him, as well as the opposition from religious leaders. We see many miracle and hear his challenging teaching through parables.
Now we have come to the last few months as he heads towards Jerusalem knowing that he must go and suffer and die for mankind.
With the challenges before him, he challenges those who are following to see if they are true disciples (followers).
Today’s lesson is from Luke 14:25-35 and about Counting the Cost of following him. Some found the self-sacrifice was too costly, so they turned around and stopped following.
Are we prepared to count the cost and keep going with Jesus?