PrayerBits for Sunday

PrayerBits

A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church

Sunday: Luke 14:25-33 What is the cost?

Time to Reflect: We think, we hope, that this passage was addressed to potential disciples. Jesus knew that anyone following him at the time was going to have to make extreme sacrifices and he was asking if they were really ready for this. They needed to count the cost. Hopefully we don't have to make the extreme choices the so many followers then and now have had to make.

Moving through the day: If it came down it, if being a believer and follower of Jesus became a challenge, what would you be willing to sacrifice for faithfulness?

Scripture:

The Cost of Being a Disciple

 25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

 28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

 31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If 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. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.