The Cost Of Discipleship

The Cost of Discipleship

Read: Luke 14:25-35

“Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:27

“Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world.”

—John Wesley

IN WORD Human nature, especially in our age, is to avoid carrying crosses at all costs. Though many people historically have made great sacrifices for a greater good, and some undoubtedly still do, we are more likely to act as if avoiding sacrifice is the greater good. We seek safety, comfort, security, and pleasure, often at the expense of doing God’s will. “Let the true zealots—the missionaries and the ministers—live consecrated lives on our behalf,” many might say. “Their sacrifices are the exception, not the rule.” We risk compromising God’s mission for the path of least resistance. We’re not willing to pay the price of impacting the world.

We read a New Testament full of crosses and chains, stonings and scars, beatings and bond servants, and we thank God that those days are gone. But they are only gone because we have learned to tiptoe around the “excesses” of New Testament zeal.

IN DEED Jesus offers us no such option. We are not allowed to fit God’s mission in around our higher priorities. We may choose safety or Christ, but not both. We may pursue the American dream or the kingdom of God, but not both. We may “give up everything” (v. 33) or not give up everything, but not both. Christ compels us to choose.

Let’s break out of our comfort zone. The life of discipleship is not about comfortable pews and golden crosses; it is about a clash of kingdoms. It is not about protecting ourselves; it is about signing up for the war. Imagine standing before the throne of our Protector one day and telling Him, “Sorry, Lord, I would have done Your will, but it wasn’t safe.” Self-preservation at the expense of obedience always has grave consequences in the Bible. Let’s recognize where eternal safety lies and abandon ourselves to the Christ who calls us to carry our crosses and sacrifice all we have.