Cost of Following Christ

Salvation is a gift from our Heavenly Father. However, Jesus explains following Christ comes with a cost. Let’s look at the cost of following Jesus: 

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.†

Luke 14:25-26 NIV 

We see this word hate again from God. Remember when God used these same hate word with Jacob and Esau? 

What Jesus is saying is He becomes priority over everything else, even our own life.

Let’s continue: 

“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.†

Luke 14:27 NIV 

The Cross represents the sacrifice Jesus went through for our sins. So taking up our cross is denying the sin to flourish within our lives. 

Let’s look at two parables that Jesus used to explain how to count the cost of following Jesus: 

““Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 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.†

Luke 14:28-32 NIV 

Jesus wants us to consider the cost before we proclaim to follow Him. What is the cost again? I will let Jesus tell us: 

“In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.†

Luke 14:33 NIV 

He said, put nothing before him, even pleasurable sin. Let’s count this Cost together Children of God.