Lent: Journey According To LukeSample

A RADICAL COST

DEVOTION
We live in a world where things are not often what they seem and where there always seems to be a ‘catch’ to everything... whether it is an airplane ticket, apartment square footage or phone bill. We are always surprised by something undisclosed or misleading.
But throughout the gospels, and in this passage, Jesus is always very upfront about the cost of being his disciple…he does not want us to be confused or misled.

Often in church we present people with ‘a sexy gospel’, a gospel that is a shadow of what it really means to follow Jesus because we do not want to scare them away
or turn them off from God. But Jesus tells us very clearly in this passage that to
be his disciple we must commit ourselves completely…with our whole being, and that it cannot just be a good thing but that it needs to be the most important thing.

The first man in this parable is drawn away by the reality of hardships that will come as we follow Jesus, the next person sees ‘no urgency’ to following Jesus (I can do it when I am old or retired), and the last person is struggling with a divided heart and loss of focus. Jesus, in this passage, is saying to us that to follow God is not just another task we add to our lives and to do list… Jesus says, it is everything!

FOR REFLECTION
• How often is our commitment to Jesus just based on our feelings? If I feel like it or I need something from him then I will obey…
• The men in the passage all had idols or secrets that they could not give up to follow Jesus… what are the ‘buts’ in our lives?
• What are the things that we secretly hold onto in our heart of hearts that keep us from totally following Jesus?
• What are the things that we love more than Jesus?
• What would our churches and communities look like if we dealt with these things in our lives?

PRAYER
Father, as I look at these passages, I realize that I am seen in every one of these excuses as to why I cannot fully follow Jesus. I confess and repent of my lack of love for Jesus and that sometimes I love other things more than him. Help me to see that he is the only thing in this world that does not change. Help me to see that Jesus is worthy of everything. Help me to worship and follow him this day.