Luke 14:25-35

Luke 14:25-35We learn that true Christians must be ready, if need be, to give up everything for Christ's sake. We learn that those who are thinking of following Christ should be warned to "count the cost."We learn how miserable is the condition of backsliders and apostates. "We must choose rather to displease those we love most upon earth, than to displease Him who died for us on the cross.""By all means let us encourage the first beginnings of religion in a soul. But never let us urge people forward without telling them what true Christianity entails. Never let us hide from them the battle and the toil. Let us say to them "come with us"--but let us also say, "count the cost."""Let us never be afraid of beginning to serve Christ. But let us begin seriously, thoughtfully, and with a due consideration of the step we take. And having once begun, let us pray for grace that we may persevere, and never fall away."Questions:1. Jesus is to be loved more than our closest friends and even ourselves. Maybe you have faced this and know the heavy cross it is to bear. If not, would you put it before your heart and ask, “what would I do if ______ told me to stop following Christ?”2. In sharing the gospel with an unbeliever, or even in speaking the truth in love to a fellow believer, have we exhorted them to count the cost or has this question been left out?3. We can probably think of a number of people who once professed Christ and now, either bear little fruit or have completely walked away. Do we think we are immune from this being us? Will we not pray, even now, to persevere in the faith?