Christian Living

Counting the Cost of Discipleship

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
11/11/20
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“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:27-28)

Often many get caught up in an emotional ecstasy when hearing the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. They are living a sin-filled life. The Holy Spirit has convicted them; they know that they are broken and need God’s free gift of salvation. You may wonder why I would say this? I should be as the Heavenly Father, the angels, and the saints in heaven and earth that one has repented and turned toward the Kingdom of Heaven. “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) I am, and it brings tears of joy to my eyes when someone answers to call of God. But for many, they do not count up the cost of following Jesus, and the price is more than they will bear. Such as it was for the Rich Young Ruler who was told to give up his worldly way and follow Jesus. “But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.” (Matthew 19:22)

Some may think that their trials will be over because they are now a part of the family of God. That an Almighty God will provide for them, and they will have their hearts greatest desire. Perhaps they are as the first thief on the cross next to Jesus and just wanted to come down from his cross. He didn’t want salvation as much as he just wanted to escape his present situation. He didn’t want to carry his cross; he wanted to be free of it. His perspective was in the now and not in the then. His perspective was of the world and not of the Kingdom of God. To follow Jesus is not living in this world, but to do the good work that Jesus has created us to do for Him. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Becoming a Christian, a follower of Jesus, is not an easy way through this world. In some circumstances, it may be a more challenging route than the one presently traveled. When we pray, Jesus will open doors for us that we cannot, and He will close doors for us that we cannot close. “Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.” (Isaiah 22:22) The key to God’s provision is as we pray His will be done, we must be living in His will for our lives to receive His graceful blessings. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

It is a narrow path that we must follow Jesus. As we have accepted Him as our Lord and Master, we now follow the path that He leads us. (Matthew 7:13-14) We have become citizens of His Kingdom, and we are to reflect that in our daily living. It is not an easy path; it is a path of service to Him and our fellow man. It is a path of sacrifice with a vision to the greater reward stored for us in Heaven when we arrive there. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12) Jesus came as a servant of humanity, and this is the example for us to follow, servanthood towards our neighbor. We would think that people would show gratitude, but they crucified Jesus and persecute us. “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

Take a walk through the Hebrews Chapter 11 and see the cost that the saints of old paid, and yet they rejoiced as they knew of the Kingdom they were bound for. The example of their work before us, and in the confidence of their faith, they have let us lay aside the sinful ways that entangle us and run the race that God has set before us. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Counting up the cost of discipleship with Jesus is a question that we must answer. Are we prepared to face the trials that lay ahead of us because of our faith in Jesus? Are we willing to fight the good fight and run the race that is before us? (2 Timothy 4:7) Jesus did not promise us a trial free life but a life of tribulation, as we are still in a world that is cursed by sin. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) The Christians are sheep in His pasture, which is filled with this world’s wolves, but He is the Good Shepherd and will care for us. (Matthew 10:16)

As you become more likeness to your new role model, you will find that family, friends, and associations will view you differently. Some will accept you as you are but not be accepting of your new life in Christ. Others, hopefully, will, and it will enrich your fellowship with them. Unfortunately, most will not be accepting, and you may even lose their friendship. It is not that you have left them, but they cannot live comfortably in their sin around you. It will be a puzzle and a mystery to them what has happened to you. Pray for them that through you, they will see the light of truth. “In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” (1 Peter 4:4-5)

The worst that could happen is they will hate you for your new-found life in Jesus. The prayer and hope are that even as they seem to have abandoned you, they are still watching from a distance. It is by showing the love of Christ in your life and by praying for His mercy upon them that some glorious day they too may come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. You may never know the seeds of God’s truth that you may have planted by the life that you now live. Protect your testimony and the honor of your Heavenly Father so they may see your faith is true in the faithful and true One. You may see the fruit of your service and sacrifice, as I have years later seen people that I thought would never come to know Jesus is living the abundant life through Him.

Our conviction that we are sinners and enemies of God because we disobey His Word began in the house of God. If this transformation has begun with you, what would be the consequences for those who have seen the change you began and then abandoned. It would be a stumbling block before them that could cost them the loss of eternal salvation in the age to come. It is not just about you; it is not just about your neighbor; it is all about propagating the gospel of Jesus to save the lost and shepherdless sheep in this fallen world. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, March 27, 2018