The Cost of Discipleship

Read--Luke 14: 27-33

"What does it cost?"  This is a common question, and often a deciding factor, in deciding whether something should be done, bought, etc.  The natural human inclination is to examine what something will cost us before we commit to it.  Generally, the less expensive something is (in terms of money, energy, or time commitment) the greater our chance of engaging it.  Why is that?  Why does cost play a role in our decision about whether or not to engage something?  My guess is that we wish to engage that which will demand the least from us so that we might be free to engage other things as well.

Throughout the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' words consistently discourage people from following him.  He doesn't want followers who are under a false illusion; Jesus doesn't want followers who follow in order to get somethign for themselves.  Jesus isn't interested in huge crowds for the sake of large numbers.  Instead, Jesus desires followers who have examined the demands of discipleship, the sacrifices Jesus expects, and have decided that they are willing to pay whatever price is necessary.  In the first verse of this parable, Jesus says point blank, "whoever does not carry the cross cannot be my disciple".  In other words, Jesus says that whoever does not wish to bear the cost of living a life of total love, of service through compassion, with the help of God's grace, cannot be a disciple of Jesus.  The question for us centers around our willingness to pay that cost.  Are we willing to pay the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ? 
God of grace and love, enable us this day to bear the load of the cross.  Grant us the grace to life as a disciple of Jesus with all the demands of following Jesus.  As we do so, we pray that your grace would sustain us and remind us that we do nothing alone, but through the strength and power of your grace.  We offer ourselves to your grace in Jesus' name, AMEN.