Luke 14:25-33 (NRSV)
Read Luke 14:25-33 on biblegateway.com
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
If you live in Minnesota you know about the anxiety surrounding the building of a nearly one billion-dollar football stadium for the Vikings football team. No one denies that the proposed building will be a great venue for football, soccer and other activities, but the questions surrounding this project are not unlike the question that Jesus asked his disciples; "Are we going to be able to pay for this monument?"
The city doesn't want to pay for it, the Minnesota taxpayers say that they cannot afford it, and the owners don't want to pay for it. It is one thing to choose to build a colossal structure, but it becomes foolishness if no one accurately counts the cost. As I write this devotion the owners of the Vikings are in the courts and many worry they may not have the money to pay their share.
When Jesus made the choice to leave Galilee and go to Jerusalem, he had counted the cost; he knew that this trip would likely bring suffering and even death. "If you choose to follow me all the way to Jerusalem," Jesus kept telling his disciples, "You must first count the cost; you must be willing to give up everything, even your life. It is one thing to chose to be a follower of the promised Messiah, but it means nothing if you can't pay the cost."
The texts for this week ask us to reflect on our choices. Today, we are asked to examine whether we are willing to pay the cost of following Jesus.
Prayer
We confess, Lord Jesus, that we would like to follow you but at no cost to our possessions and safety. Give us the courage to back up our choices. Amen!