August 12

Luke 14:25-35 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:

Journal Entry

Scripture

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. (vs 31-33)

Observation

The passage is well-known to us; counting the cost of discipleship.
With many following Jesus, He addresses to the crowd, that they need to count the cost of following Him. What, then, is the cost? What I observe here are, (1) to have Jesus the first in any relationship, the priority [vs 26- does not hate his own family members, even his own life...= to follow Jesus, not anyone else or anything else.], (2) to walk the path that Jesus has taken as a learner (disciple) [vs 27 - bearing his own cross and come after Him = to bear the persecution and experience, and relying on Him].
Then, what does it mean to "count" the cost? As a builder calculates what it takes to complete a project, the one who must reflect what it costs to follow Jesus -- to have Jesus the first. If one never gets to finish its course of being disciple, i.e. giving up in the middle, then the result is a mocking stock to others. Thus, carefully reflect on the cost of "following Jesus" before beginning the journey of discipleship. I often thought, from this passage, that since it's too difficult and costly to follow Jesus, maybe not that many people will choose to this journey of discipleship.
However, the second illustration of a king being in a war against another king, paints another aspect of counting the cost: that 'counting the cost of NOT beginning the journey of discipleship.' Verses 31-32 paint the picture that the king was found in a war against the king who is more powerful, and that the point is not necessary whether to go out to a war or not, but more of what do you do when you face a more powerful one? Isn't it wiser to go and make a peace with this powerful king? That God is more powerful than anything else in the world, and we are to face God, and what will be the cost of facing God? Face Him as a foe or face Him in terms of peace??? Thus, we ought to ally our lives with God in His terms. It will be foolish to go against this powerful king as foe. That's the cost, the cost of not following Jesus. Which means, we cannot afford not following Jesus, not beginning the journey of discipleship. Thus, the discipleship is not an option. The last two verses (vs 34-35) re-enforce this: salt that is saltless is useless.

Application

The cost of discipleship is high, that Jesus ought to be the first in our lives.
At the same time, the cost of NOT being a discipleship is even more costly, that we will face God as an enemy, and we will become like saltless salt that is only good to be thrown away.
Because of the high cost of discipleship, I have to confess, even as a pastor, that I have been somewhat lenient in encouraging and holding others accountable to walk the path of disciples, as well as many things in my life. When I realize the cost of NOT following Jesus, I have to, first, for myself reflect all the cost and have Him first in every thought and activity, and second, encourage others to walk on this path too.

Prayer

Help me, Lord, to hear You and live accordingly -- intentionally and fully. Help me to heed your charge of "He who has ears to hear, let him hear," and live accordingly in my life and hold others accountable to this calling of discipleship. In Jesus name.

--yanahn