What Jesus Said About the Cost of DiscipleshipParaugs

The gospel is radical, with an all-consuming message

None of you can be my disciples if you do not give up everything (Luke 14:33).

And He was saying to them all, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me' (Luke 9:23), and 'He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me' (Matthew 10:38).

Yes, it is radical and extreme. But the issue at stake is also extreme. It is about eternal life and eternal death. It is about the glory of God. It is about a message that can and will bring hope and healing wherever it is preached.

I once heard a pastor saying: "I have a deep desire to go to the nations. But I have four little girls, and I cannot take them into a situation of danger or uncertainty." His words draw a line through his message, making it powerless. Nobody believed that he understood the seriousness and cost of being a follower of Jesus.

The cost doesn't outweigh the prize!

Paul said: But whatever things were gain to me… I count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8). The seriousness of this message outweighs the seemingly outrageous cost of following Jesus. This is what was driving Paul (2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 2 Corinthians 6:1-10).

For Christians, nothing compares with "this treasure" we have in us and the privilege and responsibility to bring this treasure to other people.

Jesus asks everything, but He already gave everything.

Obedience: What would for you, be too difficult to give up?