“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14: 26 – 28)
John F. Kennedy said, “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.” I couldn’t find when or where this quote was made. If you know, please contact me. Either way, President Kennedy made a very bold statement concerning the importance of liberty within the United States. In 2024, I’m not so sure there is that much willingness to “pay any price,…to assure the survival and success of liberty.” Many are willing to give up their liberty and allow others to tell or guide them away from the freedom that we’ve been given. It’s sad, but true. It appears as though it’s much easier to be a follower than to be a leader.
Jesus in his statement on “counting the cost” to follow Him made the call quite clear. Whoever follows Him must put away his/her family and even his/her own life to be His disciple. How many of us as we began our walk with the Lord were asked this question, “Are you willing to put away your family, friends, and life to follow Jesus?” I’m afraid that if we were to ask those who come forward to start a new life in Him, there would be many less decisions for Christ.
This phrase “counting the cost” means recognizing and agreeing to some terms first. In following Christ, we cannot simply follow our own inclinations. We cannot follow Him and the world’s way at the same time, or follow some happy or good feelings. Whenever life stops going our way, then we run from the Lord and say, “The Christian life is way too demanding for me.” Well, that’s the whole point, isn’t it? How we lived before Christ was a disaster. Now, He is making us in His image and likeness, not our own. This is where true liberty begins and ends. Paul writes in II Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” As true followers of Jesus, may you find the liberty and freedom that Christ has for you through the presence of His Holy Spirit!
Until Next Month,
Bro. Lyle