”If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.” – Luke 14:26 (NKJV)
Following Jesus requires total commitment, a truth He makes very clear in Luke 14. He invites us to carry our cross – not as a burden meant to crush us, but as a path to absolute freedom, alignment, and purpose. True discipleship demands that we prioritise Christ above our personal comfort, secular ambition, or the fleeting approval of others.
In our daily life, the distractions are relentless. Social pressures, career demands, and personal desires constantly compete for our attention. Yet, God invites us to deliberately count the cost and follow Him with intention. Note, sacrifice is not a punishment; it is a powerful, conscious choice to place God at the absolute centre of our hearts. When we surrender fully, we don’t lose ourselves – we find clarity, freedom, and transformation.
However, we must understand why we are counting this cost:
- God wants His children to mature.
- He is calling us to grow up spiritually.
True discipleship is not meant to keep you in a never-ending (perpetual) state of spiritual infancy. God did not redeem you to keep you dependent on human mediators for your relationship with Him. 1st Peter 2:2 (NKJV) says, “As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow…” He saved you so that you could become a doer of the Word (James 1:22), hearing His voice, receiving His guidance, and reigning in the realm of life.
Living fully for Christ means making daily, mature decisions that reflect His values: honesty, integrity, mercy, love, and service. These choices may be costly in worldly terms, but they yield an eternal impact. Like a wise builder who calculates the cost before breaking ground, we must consider the cost and live with purpose.
I ask you to ponder:
1. In what areas of my life am I still acting like a spiritual “hearer” rather than a mature “doer”?
2. Am I relying too much on the spiritual discernment of others instead of developing the ability to hear God’s voice?
3. What comfort or ambition am I being called to sacrifice today to build a mature, lasting foundation in Christ?
Prayer
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the high and holy call of discipleship. I acknowledge today that following You costs something, and I joyfully choose to place You at the absolute centre of my life. Forgive me for the times I have chosen legalism or passive spiritual infancy over the hard work of growing up. Break every chain of unhealthy dependency or spiritual bondage that has kept me from moving forward. Teach me to hear Your voice for myself. Grant me the discernment, wisdom, and boldness to make daily decisions that reflect Your integrity, mercy, and love. Build me up into a mature disciple, fit for Your eternal purpose. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: Acts 21:13; 1 Corinthians 13:11
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 89:19-29; Romans 11:11-32; 1 Chronicles 4:9-43; 1 Chronicles 5