Luke 14:28–33 (Listen)

28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.




Devotional:

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:28-33)

Determine What It Takes

Jesus is telling his followers and the people in the crowd to consider the cost of what it takes to follow him. As you take this journey of looking ahead and desiring to receive the prize of your heavenly calling in Christ, you would be wise to think ahead of time what it will cost. So many people give up on their dreams because they don’t think ahead of time all that it may cost to pursue it. When the first and second waves of opposition arise, they give up because they never thought it would take so much. Let’s be honest…there is a cost to winning the prize in any contest. Following Christ to your fullest is no exception. Resist having a lazy relationship with Christ this year. Consider what Christ gave to be in a relationship with you and start identifying now what cost and sacrifices you are willing to give in your following him this year.