What Jesus Did! 'No Easy Commitment' — Luke 14:27-30

Thursday, September 7, 2023

[Teaching about commitment, Jesus continued,] "And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

"But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, 'There's the person who started that building and couldn't afford to finish it!'"

— Luke 14:27-30 NLT

Key Thought

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it many years ago: "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." [1] Bonhoeffer paid that cost when he died at the hands of the Nazis in WWII. Some of our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing the same fate in today's world also. Our commitment to Christ isn't a simple thing that happens just between our ears. Jesus warns us not to pretend to follow. He cautions us that our commitment must be heartfelt and soul-deep and that there is a cost that comes with following him. Jesus calls us to count the cost and then to follow him.

[1] Bonhoeffer, D. The Cost of Discipleship, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., New York (1963), p. 99. See also Luke 9:23-24.

Today's Prayer

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.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Hebrews 12:1-3
  • Luke 18:26-30
  • John 15:18

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Illustration

Illustration of Luke 14:27-30 NLT — "And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. "

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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