Friday, July 28, 2023

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers, and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Luke 14:25-33

As we close this week on reviewing the importance of giving ourselves to Christ, let us take what Jesus says in these verses to heart. He is quite clear. Many of us think that Jesus wants us to respond to his call in an emotional way. We think that our emotional responses are adequate in empowering us to follow Him. This is not the case. Jesus clearly says that there is a cost of discipleship. He wants all of us. He wants our hopes, our dreams, our plans, our lives.

He goes on to say that he does not want us to flippantly decide to serve him. He wants us to consider the cost. That means that he wants us to think through how our lives will change before we make the commitment to serve him. He references the need for one who is building a tower to count the cost to determine if they can complete it. He also references a king who must consider if he is able to win a war with his current resources before he goes out to battle. Jesus wants our thoughtful commitment.

Is this our dilemma? Have many of us responded emotionally to the call of Christ without fully considering our ability to carry it through? Let it not be. Even if we did not carefully make the decision, Lord give us the will to follow through on our vows to God with His help.

PRAYER: I surrender all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.