27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.”31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Jesus’ message is a message to those who are willing to risk everything to follow him. He knows that there are many obstacles that will face his followers then and now. He wants those that choose to follow to understand that they will be asked to give up worldly ideas and possessions to follow him. Jesus asks that we think carefully what we might have to give up to be committed to him, so that when the cost of discipleship rises, we will be willing to continue to follow him.
When we believe in the mission of Jesus, to free the oppressed, to give life to the outcast and to save those in need of mercy and grace, the mission is worth the cost. We live in the middle of a broken world. We live with those that are poor, outcast and broken. We have a life giving message of hope. Sharing that message will cost us. The question is the same for us as it was for the people Jesus was speaking to: Are we willing to risk the cost to be the hands and feet of Christ? I pray that our hearts are committed to his mission and that our lives will reflect our answer.
God bless,
Pastor Mandy