Some things we’ve been learning at church recently about sacrifice and obedience got me thinking about the parable of the tower:
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?” (Luke 14:28-30)
This passage is bracketed by Jesus telling us exactly what it means:
Verse 27: And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Verse 33: So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Someone bearing a cross is on the way to death. Jesus is telling us that if we’re going to finish well, we need to understand the cost of discipleship – everything.
I used to think – and I may have even taught (forgive me, Lord) – that being a disciple could cost everything. That’s wrong. This passage is very clear that being a disciple does cost everything.
That came to my mind Sunday as our teacher was talking about some things that obedience can end up costing you. I was following along, mentally checking off, “Done that. Done that. Done that too.”
Wow, that’s a prideful reaction, isn’t it?
So what if I have given up A, B and C? The Alpha and Omega says discipleship costs me my A through Z, so whatever my A, B and C are, it’s just a start. It’s simply what’s expected of me.
And of you.
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