We’re Following Jesus

Last night, in our Bible Study, someone commented on the fact that Paul, in his conversion story, was told by God how much he would suffer. There is a cost to following Jesus, and while we may be spared from knowing how and when, our success as followers of Jesus will not come easily.

Jesus offers Himself to everyone and He was always honest in describing what the journey would involve. Jesus asks to be first in our lives and that is where success as a disciple starts.

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:26  ESV

The point being made by Jesus is that there is no other relationship that is more of a priority than the one we have with Him. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus. Simply because without that relationship there is no way I can live my life learning from Him and at the same time being loyal to Him when I face rejection and persecution. If I cared more for someone else other than Jesus, would I not choose against Jesus when the time came to make a choice?

 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:27  ESV

This is the issue of being a disciple – learning from Jesus means following Him, experiencing the rejection He did. Being a disciple means to rely on Him as I follow Him.

 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.’ – Luke 14: 28-30  ESV

The implication is that embarking on the journey as a disciple of Jesus, I would do well to reflect on what it will take to finish what I have started.