Counting The Cost.

And there went great multitudes with Jesus: and He turned, and said unto them, If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, first sits down and counts the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build and was unable to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not first sit down and consult whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassador and desires conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that does not forsake all that he has, he cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:25-33.

Be Fully Persuaded.

From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that You are that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve. John 6:66-71.

No Looking Back.

As they journeyed on the road, someone said to Jesus, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then Jesus said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the Kingdom of God.”And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62.

This is really important, you have to know this:

  • Jesus never begged for followers. He warned the crowds plainly: discipleship costs everything.

  • There is no middle ground, no cheap following. Whoever will not forsake all that he has cannot walk with Him.

  • The cost is everything. The reward is eternal life. The choice is yours  but the time to choose is now.

  • The crowds followed Jesus, but He turned and warned them: the path to life is narrow, and few are willing to pay the price.

  •  Family, possessions, comfort, and even life itself must be surrendered.

The call has not changed today. Those who look back, those who cling to earthly security, human approval, and selfish ambition, are not fit for the Kingdom of God. The one who puts his hand to the plow must not turn back.