Do you need to be committed (Lesson 2)

What does it take to be totally committed.

Luke 14:27-32 NASB  "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  (28)  "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?  (29)  "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'  (31)  "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand?  (32)  "Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

The committed disciple surrenders to Christ.  We are to carry our own cross.  Jesus was made to carry His cross.  To the Romans, this was a symbol of guilt.  However, was Jesus guilty of anything?  He was guilty of being the Son of God.  He was guilty of loving us to the point that He would die for us. 

 

The notion that we must carry our own cross means that we too must be willing to die for Jesus.  Do we take this to lightly today; do we live in a lull?  Many times in the early church history we see individuals put to the test for being a Christian.  History speaks of people accepting Jesus because of the unwavering faith of these martyrs.  These people counted the cost of serving Jesus and even though they lost their lives, it was worth it. 

Every time we begin a project, we count the cost.  How silly would be for a contractor to commit to a project and not figure ahead of time what it is going to cost.  How would he ever stay in business?  The cost for each of us might be different.  You may have to quit the job that wants you to do dishonest things.  You may be ostracized at school or in social settings because you do not do the party scene.  God is our heavenly father, He is in control, and He knows how to take care of His children.  Always hold on to God it will be worth the cost.