"Count the Cost"

N.T.#593 "Count the Cost"

July 18, 2025 

Luke 14-Part 6 

And whosoever doth no bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. (verse 27)

LET IT GLOW

Jesus gives instructions on how we can be His disciple. First, He tells us to love Jesus most of all, more than an other relationship. Then He tells us to bear our cross.

Bear means endure; declare; take up; sustain.

Taking up our cross means we die to self as the cross was an instrument of death back then. So we are to endure public scorn of discipleship and accept the inevitable suffering it brings. We get in line behind Jesus and follow Him. We embrace the Father's will for us, exchanging our plans, goals, desires for the Father's will for our life. He wants an all-or-nothing disciple, no fickle ones. We understand the cost and are willing to endure whatever. Our plans become His plans for us.

LET IT GROW

One short story Jesus tells is around a person intending to build a tower, sits down and counts the cost before building it. That way he won't be mocked if it doesn't get finished. Another illustration has to do with a king, before going to war, sits down and consults with his men concerning how many they have in order to defeat the enemy. 

In other words, consider the cost of following Jesus. It cost His disciples their very lives.

Did you notice that Jesus put this in terms of when we cannot be His disciple?

1. If we don't love our family less than we love Jesus, we aren't His disciple.
2. If we don't bear our cross and follow Him, we can't be His disciple.
3. If we don't forsake all, then we cannot be Jesus' disciple.

To sum it up, we are to love Jesus most of all, deny ourself, forsake all, and follow Him. Our plans, our will, we surrender to the Savior. That way He can use us in kingdom work, accomplish His will, and bring glory to God.

LET IT GO

Is there something holding us back from being a sold-out disciple of Jesus?

Count the cost and let it go.