Count the Cost of Following Jesus

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” MATTHEW 10:37-38 Suppose your son or daughter puts pressure on you to stop following Jesus. Or your mother or father puts pressure on you to stop following Jesus. He or she is opposed to Jesus; you are for Him. You must decide. Will you listen to Jesus who says, “Follow Me,” or will you listen to a loved one who says, “Give Him up. There is a better life for you to pursue”? Each of us will have to decide, and Jesus tells us how to make this decision. We must count the cost, and there are two sides to this calculation. What will it cost me if I follow Jesus? What will it cost me if I do not? You must first count the cost of following Jesus. There will be a cross; there will be a sword. God will bring a cross into the life of every follower of Jesus. Thomas Boston said, “God had one Son without sin, but no son without a cross.” A cross will always be present in your life. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him… take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The cross you carry may change, but in every season of your life, there will be some cross for you to bear—some cost for you in following Jesus. What is the cross in your life now? How is God using this cross to make you more like Christ? Take time to thank God for His perfect will and ask Him to give you joy in perseverance. Written by Colin SmithRead by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk