First Week of Lent – Saturday
March 16, 2019
From Presbyterian Outlook Devotions
Luke 14:25-33
25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Jesus came to proclaim good news, but good news does not mean easy or without cost. Jesus preaches the truth, not simply what people want to hear. As you read this passage, consider the cost of discipleship. Today, what do you need to do or not do in order to follow Jesus more closely?
Dear God, you instruct us to consider the cost of discipleship. Worshipping you alone requires that all else is secondary. We reverse the order of your priorities, making excuses for our upside-down lives. During this Lent we humbly repent and haltingly attempt to put you first. Amen.
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