Reading: Luke 14:25-35
And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Being a disciple of Jesus, a citizen of His Kingdom, is the most valuable thing that exists. There is no greater treasure than Christ; nothing better than knowing Him.
Those who want to be part of that Kingdom should count the cost of following Him.
Are you willing to suffer rejection even from your own family? Because even that is possible. No one can remain neutral before Jesus.
Are you willing to take your cross and follow Him?
You cannot be a half-hearted disciple of Jesus, you cannot be a mere sympathizer, or you follow Him or you are part of those who are still lost.
Being a citizen of this Kingdom is knowing that you are now part of something greater and higher than yourself. And that’s why you must be willing to die to your personal desires and ambitions. The Kingdom of God is more valuable than all of that. More valuable than recognition, more valuable than possessions and positions, more valuable than anything else you can imagine.
There is no higher calling than to follow Him. Consider, then, whether you are willing to do so.
He has told us that the road will be hard, and difficult, that we will suffer rejection and persecution for his cause, that we will have afflictions… but he has also promised us to be with us all the way to the end and come to seek us, to take us with him forever.
Do you understand it? There is no more precious kingdom to belong to, there is no more sublime king to serve…
MEDITATE: Have you considered the cost of following Jesus? Do you understand that there is nothing more precious than knowing and following Him?

Translation By: Emily Stader