Quest for Hope
Count the Cost 3-17-16
Luke 14:28-35
Yesterday, we read about the narrow gate who is Jesus and the need to remain committed to God’s commands of love. Today, we will read about Jesus’ advice to count the cost before choosing to become his disciple. Jesus invites us to be ready to live out what it takes to make him Lord; it will have an impact and he wants us to be prepared.
Luke 14:28-35New Living Translation (NLT)
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
34 “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? 35 Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!”
Because human life is built on all kinds of connections, when a change is made in one life it is like a tumbling domino effect to everything else. Those connections are interrupted and unsettled by change. If we are determined to carry our cross and follow Jesus, it will not only change our perspective and individual lives, it will have far-reaching effects on everyone and everything within our sphere of influence. We must be willing to let go of the status quo in every area, because Jesus desires and deserves to be Lord of every aspect of our being. How loving of Jesus to make sure he communicates some of the challenges we may face in order to remain “salty” or to reflect his image in our families, social status, wealth, time, vocations, etc. Christ prepares us so we can stay the course and represent him accurately; daily we must make the choice to remain faithful.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for preparing my heart for the faith journey ahead through the words of Jesus. I choose to follow as you build my life one day at a time. In Jesus’ name. Amen.