The Cost of Discipleship

The Cost of Discipleship
And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33
Salvation is a free gift. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn our way into heaven. Jesus did the work and He alone paid the price for our entrance into heaven. However, if we are going to follow Him and be His disciple then there is a price to be paid. We 21st century American Christians really don’t want to hear that. Nevertheless, it is the truth. If you read just the words of Jesus, you learn some interesting things. For instance, he never sugar coats being a disciple. Many American preachers are more interested in growing their Churches and becoming the CEO of a major corporation! But Jesus said if you want to follow me there will be a price to be paid. He never promised us a rose garden. In fact, quite the opposite. He said in one place that if they hated Him, they will also hate us. If they persecute me, they will persecute you. How many times in the gospel did He say, If you want to be my disciple, you have to take up your cross, deny yourself and follow me?
God’s ways are very different than our ways. For instance, if you want patience, how will God bring it into your life? He brings trials and tribulations to develop your patience. There is a price to be paid to become a disciple! All of the original disciples (The Twelve), paid a heavy price to follow Jesus. They all died gruesome deaths and went through immense persecution. Now the flip side of that is they saw many awesome miracles and healings.
In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus talked about the cost of following Him. One man came up to Him and said, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” To another he said, Follow me, but the man replied, Lord, first let me go and bury my father. Jesus said, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus said, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the service in the kingdom of God.”
Do you see here all the excuses people are giving Jesus? It reminds me a lot of us. I’m always giving Jesus excuses of why I can’t do this or that. His answer is still the same. No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the service in the kingdom of God. Our excuses are pretty lame. If not now, when? If not us, then who? Let’s get rid of all our excuses and begin now to do the things God is calling us to do. You are the one God has called! You will be equipped when you step out in obedience and begin to do what you know to do!
Consumed by the call,
Pastor Marty