Luke 14:26-28
"If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
"But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? NLT
I have been very troubled this morning by this passage, so I know something is stirring in me. The book "not a fan" is really raising some questions in my heart. I am thinking if I lived in a country ….. Say the Ukraine …….. Like someone I know. Would I be a fan or a follower? I know what this person went through because off his faith in Jesus. I know that this person's family turned their back on him when he chose Jesus. I know this person IS A FOLLOWER. He counted the costs and he chose wisely. This person is someone I deeply respect. I know this person and if he was faced with denouncing Jesus or die he would die.
I have to wonder about myself though. I have to wonder if I was made to go live in China or Iran If I would still be a follower or a secret fan. I mean I wouldn't want to be beheaded because I was a follower of Jesus. This has really stirred me up this morning and is really giving me a lot to think about.
Am I a fan or a follower?
Have I really counted the costs?
I think I put more effort in my estimates when it comes to counting the costs.
