Counting the cost

Read > Luke 14:25-35

If you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple (v. 27).

I remember studying Tudor history in school and learning about famous people like Henry VIII and Mary Queen of Scots. During that same era lived some believers who were great examples for Christ – people that historical textbooks often gloss over. The Oxford Martyrs (Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley, Thomas Cranmer) were all burned at the stake for refusing to deny their Christian convictions. As the monarchs had changed, so did the country’s doctrine, but these men stayed faithful to their beliefs, even to the point of death.

Jesus says that we must choose whether or not we will apply the cost of following Him to our own lives, just as the Oxford Martyrs did. Much like evaluating whether or not to engage in a major battle (Luke 14:31), this is a big decision. A king can’t take lightly the decision to enter into battle, for his entire kingdom will be at stake if he fails. Neither should we decide to follow Jesus without really knowing what that will cost us. Jesus says that when we follow Him, we must give Him our whole life. Only then will we stand out as His disciples, just as salt is distinct in its flavour and preservation qualities (v. 34). Jesus wants to be the centre of our existence.

Standing out for Christ, however, will never be easy. It includes bringing all areas of our lives under His authority. As we do, it shows that we aren’t living for what this world has to offer, but out of love and obedience to Jesus.

He said, “If you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple” (v. 27). He calls us to die to ourselves and to deny our self-centred nature as we follow Him.

For Latimer and the other martyrs, the cost of putting Jesus first meant death. We should also give up our lives for Christ, whether we become martyrs or not. – Chris Wale

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When He died, He died once to break the power of sin. But now that He lives, He lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:10-11).

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What has it cost you to follow Jesus? What in your life do you need to ask Him to change?