What will a disciple do?

Have you ever felt like God was calling you to something?

Did you ever question this call when it came?

Did you move to do what God urged you to do? Or did you take a step back and count the costs?

Did the disciples hesitate when Jesus called them to follow him? Not as far as we can see from the Bible. The disciples went when Jesus called them to follow. They left everything, and did not look back. They gave up their lives to follow this man, they had never met, or knew nothing about. They left it all behind, because he said come follow me….

Have you ever heard Jesus say to you, “Come, follow me.” It is a command, not a question of do you want to follow me, not a request, like it can be refused. However most of us refuse to follow. We step back and count the costs of following. Much like the 2 Jesus talks about in Luke 14:28-32. The man counts the cost of building a tower, and the king counts the cost of going to war… Are these the models of discipleship we are to be seeking, or are the disciples the ones we should watch?

The cost of being a disciple is clear in Luke 14:26-27. This passages says (TNIV): 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even life itself—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

If you do not hate everyone. even your own live, you can not be a disciple. Jesus continues after the story of the man and the king in verse 33 with: In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. You have to give up everything and carry your cross, the cost of carrying your cross is death, but the life of discipleship is one of a life with God eternally.

What will a disciple do, count the costs, or trust, bear their cross, and follow when called?

What will a disciple do?