COUNTING THE COST!
Hating your mother and father in contrast to your Love for Jesus.
READ:
Luke 14:25-30 (NIV)
25 Large crowds were traveling 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.’
REFLECT:
> Would you turn away from your family for Jesus?
> What does "Carry their cross" mean?
> Have you counted the cost of being a disciple of Jesus?
> Can you finish the race that you've started?
> Are you willing to give up everything for Jesus?
RESPOND:
> Jesus knows that you will face persecution for following him, But follow Him anyway!
> The Romans used public crucifixions as capital punishment for the people that they hated most and the Romans performed crucifixions using wooden crosses.
> Before a carpenter cuts, they must first measure. Likewise, we must first measure the cost of following Jesus before we do so.
> You will be held accountable for your actions, so don't start what you cannot finish.
> The world is constantly changing, and possessions and money will rot and rust, so put nothing ahead of your personal relationship with Jesus.
REPENT:
> If you don't love Jesus more than you love your mother, father, sister and brother. REPENT!
> If you are afraid to lay your life down for Jesus. REPENT!
> If you enter into becoming a Disciple of Jesus blindly. REPENT!
> If you put money, possessions or people before Jesus. REPENT!
REJOICE:
> Counting the cost when you start your walk with Jesus will be tough, but SO worth it.
> Know that Jesus is aware of the struggles that you'll face as His Disciple is why he laid his life down for you.
> There is strength in numbers. When we create other Disciples, we create a network of fellow Cross Carriers.