Count the Cost

Three different times in the past week, I’ve heard the same Bible story.  Coincidence?  I don’t think so.  God’s speaking to me clearly so that I won’t miss it.  Luke 14:25-35 has come up in Bible study, youth group, and in a book I’m reading.  It’s about counting the cost of being a disciple.  One of my youth pastors asked us, “what does it cost you to be a disciple?”.  We threw out all kinds of crazy answers, and after a few minutes he stopped us and told us the answer – everything. 
Being a disciple costs us everything.  In order to completely follow Jesus, we must let go of all that we have and run hard after Him.  It’s not easy and it won’t always be safe or fun, but that’s the cost of following Jesus.  It’s been a struggle realzing that I have to give up everything – my dreams, my desires, my hopes, and my daily selfishness.  I can’t hold back or hold on.  Luke 14:33 says that if we don’t give up everything that we have, we cannot be a true disciple.  So often I believe that because I’m a Christian my life should be easy or I shouldn’t have problems.  We were never guaranteed any of that, though.  Actually, we were promised the opposite – Jesus said we will have trouble, but we can have confidence because He has overcome the world.  We were promised that His grace is sufficient for our weakness.  Following Jesus isn’t easy, but so many times I have been led to believe or have chosen to believe that it should be.  The question I’m facing now is, “is Jesus worth it?”.  Is He worth everything – my entire life?  Do I love Him enough to let go of it all and run after Him?  Do I trust Him enough to give Him total control of my past, present, and future?  It scares me, and I have doubts.  But I know what it costs now.  If I want to be a true disciple, a true follower of Christ, it WILL cost me everything.  It won’t probably cost a lot, or maybe cost everything – it WILL cost me all I have.  Am I willing to let go?  It will require daily surrender – denying myself and taking up my cross daily…but I’m ready.  Jesus IS worth it.