Luke 14:25-33 (NRSV)
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Verse 25Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, Verse 26"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Verse 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Verse 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Verse 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, Verse 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Verse 31Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? Verse 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. Verse 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.
Devotion
In the gospel lesson for this week, Jesus uses the building of a foundation as a way of talking about discipleship. Foundations do not take shape by accident. They call for careful planning and commitment to achieve the desired goal. What is so ridiculous, Jesus asks, as an unfinished foundation?
In the same way, the call to follow Jesus requires commitment, a willingness and ability to follow through to the end. Faithfulness is necessary, because our commitment to Jesus will be challenged by competing claims and relationships. At such times one does not have to look for a cross. Sorting out how to deal with possessions or even with close family relationships may be the cross we bear in order to follow where God leads. In such moments it is important to return to the foundational promises of God’s word as that which empower and sustain us on the journey.
Prayer
Faithful God, you call us to be your disciples and to commit to walk in your way. Such commitment is beyond our power. And so we claim your promise that you are near to encourage and sustain us in our journey. Amen.