Daily Worship

Travelling the Way . . . Towards Jerusalem

Jock Stein February 20, 2016 0 0

Luke 14.25-33

The cost of being a disciple

25 Large crowds were travelling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 ‘Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”

31 ‘Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Think

Grace is tough – tough to give out, tough to live out.

Pray

Lord, I find these very tough words, and they are too much for me. I am not a saint who gives up everything with a flourish. I am counting the cost afresh, and it frightens me. I want to follow you, but I am weak and easily put off. Without you I can indeed do nothing.

Today I would think also of the goal, to give me courage. Today I would think of the glory, to give me strength. Today I would think also of the one who set his face towards Jerusalem, towards the cross, trusting in the joy that lay on the other side. May I find him today on the road beside me as I set out, and in the home beside me as I return.

Now to him who is able to keep us from falling, and to bring us faultless and joyful before his glorious presence, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and majesty, from all ages past, now and for ever, Amen.