Counting the Cost

MORNING

Read Luke 14:28-33

Devotion

At this stage of His ministry, Jesus was very popular. Huge crowds were following Him around, attracted by His power and authority. But Jesus never mistook fans for followers. He knew there was a world of difference between those who were hanging out for the next miracle and those who would commit to His lifestyle and submit to His teaching for life. He kept emphasizing to the crowds that being His disciple would cost them everything they were holding on to (14:26, 33).

In this Scripture, Jesus challenges potential disciples to count the cost before committing. Not to get carried away by the excitement of the dream. Like someone erecting a tower block, you need to weigh up the cost carefully before starting to build. In the seaside town in which we live, there are several large vacant properties for sale. They were originally purchased by keen developers who despite all their effort couldn’t raise the finances to build their dreams. They are witnesses to failure. Similarly, you don’t want to get all passionate about following Jesus and then find that you’re not willing or able to keep going. That’s disappointing for everyone. As these devotions have emphasized: count the cost first.

But there seems to be a different emphasis in Jesus’s second story. Here we have a king weighing up the cost of going to war against a superior force. Perhaps in this picture, the king with 20,000 soldiers represents God. The question is, “Can you afford to take on God?” As the king about to go to war found, you’d be better off making peace while you can (14:32). We not only need to weigh up the cost of following Jesus, but also the cost of not following Jesus by rejecting His call to be a disciple. It's a dreadful cost. No one can win in a fight against God.

As Jesus calls us to be His daily disciples, we face these two key questions: “Can I afford to give up my life to follow Jesus?” and “Can I afford to hold on to my life and end up losing everything?” It’s a huge call that we all have to make.

Prayer

It’s tempting to look for some middle path in following You, Jesus. A pathway that will give me a little more personal pleasure, freedom and control. But You never allowed for it. You kept speaking about two options: the wide path or the narrow path, building on the rock or the sand, for You or against You. Lord, as I weigh up Your invitation to be Your disciple, please give me the courage to say yes every day, knowing the cost of both following and rejecting You.

Today’s Bible Focus

“Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost.”

LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)

1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective, and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.

EVENING

1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day, and thank God for what He has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day, and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.