Now large crowds were going along with 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 carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Luke 14:25-30
While Jesus had compassion on the people in the large crowds that followed Him, He also called every individual to radical, all-in, commitment. He could foresee that a half-hearted commitment would result in ridicule of the gospel and also of those feigning devotion. Jesus says that I must ‘take up my cross’ daily and follow Him.
Have I counted the cost of following Jesus?
God, thank you that I am not trying to follow You without help. The Holy Spirit is with me and in me. As this week begins, I pray that again Your love and power would be evident. Please help me bring You glory and never ridicule. I have counted the cost and am willing to give all for You.
