Luke 9:57-58

In this brief interaction between Jesus and a teacher of the law (as stated in Matthew 8:18), The Teacher teaches a teacher on the cost of being His disciple. Jesus wants to teach us this same lesson too. Have we considered the cost of following Him? The Jews involved in building the early church considered the cost. The pilgrims who started this country considered the cost. Presently, those who follow Christ in Muslim or communist countries have considered the cost. Going into it, most, if not all, knew to some extent what their following Christ would cost them – many even unto death. They considered the cost before they followed otherwise they would not have stayed the course or finished the race marked out for them. They were convinced that any sacrifice placed in the Master’s hand, in regard to following hard after Him, would be richly rewarded. I am confident that they would agree with Paul’s statement:11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2 Tim 1:11-12 (NIV)
As Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem, these disciples resolutely set out to follow Jesus. I reiterate the question, have we considered the cost of following Him? Do we believe that just because we live in “the land of the free and the home of the brave” we do not have to consider the cost of this great endeavor? Big mistake! I love what Amy Carmichael states when looking for prospective missionary recruits: “Not a word of attraction can I write to (a prospective recruit). It will be desperately hard work, iron would snap under the strain of it. I ask for steel, that quality which is at the back of all going on, patience which cannot be tired out, and a love that loves in very deed, unto death.” Indeed, what was and is required of the disciple of Christ is the growing manifestation of all the fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control – against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). As we see these manifested in a life in ever increasing measure the disciple of Christ has begun to take shape. When we add to this mix the call to love which, of course, is patient and kind, not envious nor boastful nor proud, not rude nor self-seeking, not easily angered, keeping no record of wrongs, not delighting in evil, but rejoicing with the truth, always protecting, always trusting, always hoping, always persevering – always keeping a keen focus on the fact that love never fails (I Corinthians 13:4-8) it is then that we have the making of a true disciple of our Lord Jesus. Jesus speaks to us again on the cost of being a disciple later in Luke chapter 14: 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes, even his own life--he cannot be my disciple. 27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. 34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Luke 14:28-35 (NIV) Jesus’ emphasis here is on our priority of people and things. No one or no thing is to take precedence over Him in our lives. It is to properly arrange all things in terms of interest, attachment and priority – everything must be subordinate to Christ – everything. This is part of our faith walk. Like Abraham, we will be called to sacrifice our Isaac’s – place our beloved person or thing into His hands. If He calls us to sacrifice or continue on without changing a circumstance – the grace will always be given sufficient to meet the need. We must look for the ram within the thicket. And, like our Father Abraham, we will be able to say “The Lord will Provide”.