Are you prepared for the cost of commitment to being a disciple of Jesus? If you’re like me, you may not have grasped this until you became a mature Christian. The good news is that the Christian walk is often a journey of learning, and as we grow in faith, we develop a deeper understanding of the path we’re on.
To follow Jesus is to walk the narrow road where the Lord guides our path, as opposed to the broad road of the world that seems easy but leads to our destruction. The narrow road is always challenging because it’s rarely popular and often tough. When pondering the cost of following Christ, we must consistently seek God’s strength and guidance to grasp the bigger picture of our relationship with Jesus. Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” [1] Without God’s guidance, as revealed through His Spirit and Word, we are lost as we navigate life’s journey.
Counting the Cost
As a large crowd follows Jesus, He challenges them to consider the cost of discipleship. This involves taking up their cross and following Him. Jesus does not portray how easy it will be to be a disciple, but emphasizes the sacrifice required, giving them a warning. Luke 14:28 “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!’ [2]
Unlike slick politicians who try to deceive people, Jesus speaks the truth. He promises His followers a Kingdom, but also makes it clear that there will be difficulty and suffering. Following Jesus may require giving up control of your career, home, or other obstacles that block God’s plan. When I left a good job to become a pastor, it was puzzling to many people who thought I was throwing away my life. Now, many years later, I am thankful the Lord gave my wife and me the courage to step into the unknown and follow Him.
Don’t Turn Back
Have you ever felt like giving up and turning back? Jesus tells us to consider the cost of being a disciple so we don’t give up when the road gets tough. When the road became difficult on Paul’s first missionary journey, it affected a young man named John Mark. Acts 13:13Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.[3]
Yes, like many of us, we can buckle under the pressure of an arduous journey. When we do, we can ask the Lord for forgiveness and begin again. As disappointed as Paul was with John Mark, he would later return to work with Paul and become a great asset. John Mark went on to write the Gospel of Mark. Sometimes, our greatest teachers of God’s grace and recommitting ourselves to Him come from our failures. It is then that we realize how much we need to depend on the Lord at every step.
Are you prepared for the cost of commitment to be a disciple of Jesus? To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-cost-of-discipleship
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.