Good morning!
Is Menards your favorite store? Or are you a Home Depot fan?
I have noticed that many people in the Renville area enjoy fixing up their homes and are often immersed in a do-it-yourself home improvement project. From little jobs (painting a bedroom) to bigger jobs (finishing off a basement, replacing a roof, putting up siding, or adding another bathroom), it seems that people in Renville don’t shy away from taking on yet another project that might involve some intense labor and continue over a period of time.
And whenever we start a home improvement project, we always count the cost of supplies, consider the labor and the sacrifice of our time and other activities—right? We aren’t going to build a deck if we don’t know how to pay for the wood or we don’t have time to do the work ourselves or money to pay a professional. And we aren’t going to take on a plumbing or electrical job if we don’t have the know-how or the courage to take a risk and learn something new as we are doing it.
In Luke 14:25-35, Jesus tells a crowd of his would-be followers that before they say they will be his disciples, they should first count the cost and consider the labor involved. Being Christ’s follower isn’t something one can do part time or only half heartedly. Your mind and your heart cannot be divided. You must be completely devoted to loving and serving God above all people and all things. You cannot love your family more than serving God. And not only that—you have to die to your own desires and needs and live as Christ lived—his life a loving sacrifice so that others may not perish but enjoy everlasting life with the Father.
Jesus says to the crowd,
“‘Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.’”
When Jesus says “possessions,” he doesn’t just mean what we own. By putting God first, we are changing the dynamics of all our relationships with other people. God is the one in whom we place our trust and God is the one we seek for our peace, strength, and guidance. It is His love that matters and fills us to overflowing. Obeying Him is the most important thing in our lives. Worldly ambitions just get in the way of loving God with all heart, soul, mind and might.
Come and join me in following Christ—but don’t do it to please someone else, or your heart will not be in it.
You can’t take up His cross unless you are ready to give up your desires, ambitions, and living for yourself.
Count the cost—and then come with me as we continue on this journey of faith together, learning how to walk each step of the way.
Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your call to discipleship and beckoning us to come and follow Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for your love that led you to make the most difficult sacrifice—to give up your One and Only Son so that we may be saved. Give us the courage and perseverance to keep on walking this journey of faith, no matter what the cost. Give us the strength to overcome any obstacles and any trials that may lay ahead. Mold and shape us into the disciples you want us to be. May our lives be a witness to Your glory and grace. Use us for your loving kingdom purposes. In Christ we pray. Amen!
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Karen
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