What Jesus Did : Luke 14:28-30 - No Easy Commitment

    by Phil Ware

    No Easy Commitment - Luke 14:28-30

    "If you wanted to build a building, you would first sit down and decide how much it would cost. You must see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don't do that, you might begin the work, but you would not be able to finish. And if you could not finish it, then all the people watching would laugh at you. They would say, 'This man began to build, but he was not able to finish!'" (ERV) Full Text

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    Key Thought

    Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it many years ago, "When Christ calls a man, he calls him to follow him to a cross and die." Bonhoeffer paid that cost when he died at the hands of the Nazis in WWII. Our commitment to Christ isn't a simple thing that happens between our ears. Jesus cautions us that this commitment is heartfelt and soul deep. He warns us not to pretend to follow, but to know there is a cost that comes with following him. Jesus calls us to count the cost, and then to follow him.


    Today's Prayer

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    Loving Father, too often I find my service to you and to the Kingdom lukewarm and passionless. Father, I not only ask for your forgiveness, but I also ask that you renew and revive me by the power of your Holy Spirit. Stir me to be the follower of Jesus you want me to be. I offer you my life, my love and my all in Jesus' name. Amen.


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    Today's Verses in Context


    Many people were traveling with Jesus. Jesus said to the people, "If a person comes to me, but will not leave his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters, then that person cannot be my follower. A person must love me more than he loves anything—even his own life! If a person will not carry the cross (suffering) that is given to him when he follows me, then that person cannot be my follower. If you wanted to build a building, you would first sit down and decide how much it would cost. You must see if you have enough money to finish the job. If you don't do that, you might begin the work, but you would not be able to finish. And if you could not finish it, then all the people watching would laugh at you. They would say, 'This man began to build, but he was not able to finish!' "If a king is going to fight against another king, first he will sit down and plan. If the king has only 10,000 men, he will plan to see if he is able to defeat the other king that has 20,000 men. If he cannot defeat the other king, then he will send some men to speak to the other king and ask for peace. It is the same for each of you. You must decide if you can leave everything you have to follow me. If not, you cannot be my follower! "Salt is a good thing. But if the salt loses its salty taste, then you can't make it salty again. It is worth nothing. You can't even use it for soil or for plant food. People throw it away. "You people that hear me, listen!"

    -- Luke 14:25-35 (ERV)

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