Luke 14:26-33 Count the Cost - Devotional Scripture

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.        Matthew 28:19.

Jesus never used the term Christian to describe a believer. The early church didn’t describe themselves as Christians. They described themselves as disciples, saints, and brothers. Christian was used by the non-believing world to describe Christ's followers in a derogatory way.

Jesus calls us to be His disciples.  Discipleship requires a complete rearrangement of our priorities. This is what Luke sought to remind us of in the fourteenth chapter of his gospel. In this chapter, Jesus lists three requirements of being a disciple.

First, our love for Jesus must come before any other human relationship. We need to be more concerned about how an action will affect Jesus and His glory rather than how it will affect ourselves or our family. Obedience to Christ must come before our own personal comfort and safety (Luke 14:26). Secondly, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross. This means we willingly lay down our own rights, desires and ambitions and exchange them for His will for our lives. We determine in hearts that we will to stand for Jesus no matter what. (Luke 14:27). Thirdly, we place our commitment to Jesus above material possessions. We must love God more than we love money and what it can provide (Luke 14:33).

I pray you will count the cost of being His disciple.  If you don’t, you will not be able to stand firm in the battle that is before you. As a disciple of Jesus, you are entering a war and that battle will rage on until you leave this earth. And without the rearrangement of your priorities you will spend the rest of your time, here on earth, fighting God’s right to rule your life and you will never experience the abundant life that Jesus offers. Instead, this life will be draining, discouraging and depressing.  But, when you really trust Jesus with your life and put Him first above everything and everyone else your burden becomes easy and you are able to enjoy Christ’s riches now and in the life to come.