A Reflection On Discipleship

When I am counting the cost of following Jesus

The cost of discipleship is great. Jesus makes that point over and over again. He calls for a willingness to deny oneself and take up a cross. He called His disciples to suffer the cost.

But the cost of not following Jesus is even greater than the cost of discipleship. Those who do not follow Him—even those who follow Him, but not wholeheartedly—miss all of the blessings and benefits of being completely sold out to Christ. They miss intimate fellowship with the Creator of all that is; they miss the power of God at work in their lives; they miss the peace and fullness of knowing they are right with God. And they will miss great eternal rewards.

Every human being pays an extremely high price—either the cost of discipleship or the cost of opting out of it. The cost of opting out is infinitely greater. Holding on to a little bit of self destroys intimacy with God and renders a life relatively fruitless. Let go of your agenda and receive the blessing of walking in His steps in the power of His Spirit.

What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

Matthew 16:26