What does it cost?

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

If you have ever purchased a car or a home the first thing you had do is to figure out what you could afford. You had to count the cost of ownership. If you have a budget of $150,000 to buy a new home it wouldn’t do you any good to have a real-estate agent show you homes that list for $500,000. Jesus tells those that would follow Him to “count the cost.” The problem for too many professing Christians is that they never counted the cost to become a disciple of Christ.

Jesus never used the term Christian when he described those who believed in Him. Jesus used the term disciple to refer to His followers. The Greek term for disciple in the New Testament is mathetes, which means more than just student  or  learner. A disciple is a follower,  someone who adheres completely to the teachings of another, making them his rule of life and conduct.

Jesus makes it perfectly clear that following Him could cost you your life. He told the great crowd that if they wanted to follow Him they must deny themselves         and take up their cross every day. They would have      understood perfectly what taking up the cross meant. They were committing to follow Jesus even if it meant death. This is a far cry from those who would tell you that God has nothing but health, wealth and prosperity for those who come to Christ. That is the message of many churches today. Come to Jesus and all your problems will be solved, no more heartache, financial struggles or health issues. This sounds good but it is a lie straight from the pits of Hell.

When we come to Christ we are warned with Jesus’ own words:

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:25-27

It is always good to pay attention to what God tells us  but when He repeats it we should pay close attention.      In Luke 14:27 He repeats the command to be willing to die for Him. Following Him may cost you friendships,    being estranged from family members, a job, criticism, persecution and yes, even death. Jesus tells you to count the cost ( Luke 14: 28-33). He wants you to know what it takes to be His disciple, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple”. What say you, have you counted the cost to be called a disciple of Jesus?

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark