podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/257c8d7d/free-but-costly-contradiction-in-terms-luke-47
It was a Thursday morning. I had gotten the boys off to school and was doing some work around the house, when Dylan came back home. (picture from that time---->)
'Hey, what are you doing home?'
'Well I'm probably going to be suspended," he said.
'What in the world? What did you do?'
'Mom, you just have no idea... you have no idea what it is like to be your son. I heard it for the last time today!'
'What are you talking about, Dylan?' I asked.
'I was getting out of my car and Lucas said - 'Dude, your mom, she's trying to proselytize the whole campus!' And yeah, well he said a couple other things... I had had it, so I hit him right in the mouth!'
'Oh, Dylan...' was all I could first manage to say as Dylan got emotional, then I started crying, 'Son, you do not have to attend Fellowship of Christian Athletes anymore, but surely you would not have me quit because kids are saying these things about me, would you?' The question hung in the air.
Quit. No, he wouldn't have me quit, but there was no doubt that leading the campus club was costly - not just for me - but for my son. As Dylan hurt, my heart ached
This is but one example from my life of the costly decision of being a sold-out disciple of Jesus Christ, being obedient to what I knew God called me to do. (Clearly, compared to those who have paid the ultimate price for their faith, this was nothing.)
Thankfully, I knew the Word, and I knew Jesus' words about counting the cost, about denying myself, in order to serve him.
We pick up in Luke chapter 14, when Jesus left dinner at the Pharisee's home, and crowds quickly found him and gathered. At this point, people could not get enough of Jesus, but He knew many would turn away in the days that followed. And with every step he took, Jesus knew the cost of what lay before him: in order to give mankind thefree gift of salvation, it would cost him everything. Further, Jesus knew what his disciples would face when he left them. Jesus cared for his twelve disciples like a loving mother does her children - teaching them of the dangers and pitfalls of life, preparing them for what was to come in the future.
Jesus' words are in red, my words of explanation in green: "Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
This is shocking to our modern ears, but we know Jesus is not telling us to hate anyone--so what does he mean here? Turns out the word for 'hate' is a Semitic expression meaning 'love less'... Jesus clearly states that He must have first place in our hearts, minds and lives. For the disciple or 'the devoted', Jesus is to have no equal in our lives.
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. When Jesus spoke these words, those listening knew exactly what he was talking about; they had seen people bearing Roman crosses on their backs on the way to their own executions. What a word picture for dying to our own ways, wants and wills! For this is the call to the disciple.
Two examples that cause us to think--count the cost ahead of time, because standing for Jesus might leave us standing alone. And surrendering all to Jesus might leave us lonely and in some parts of the world, subject us to death: For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14.25-35
Salvation is the free gift of God, but following Christ will be costly--first because God wants our 'all', our willingness to obey him even if and when others do not.
As Christ's disciple, we endeavor to honor him, do as he would have us do, not just what feels good, oft subjugating our own comfort or ease. It seems those who live in the Middle East, some African countries and communist countries where Christianity is illegal understand Jesus' intent quite clearly, because choosing to follow Christ may indeed cost them everything, including their families. Indeed in some places, it may mean prison, torture or death.
But for most of us, it means choosing God's way every single day. In obedience to His Word, in deference to Him, we deny our own good pleasures at times, and seek his will before our own. Maybe most costly of all, Jesus calls us to surrender ourselves entirely to him. This is counterculture to a worldview that says 'You do you', 'do what makes you happy'.
So, yes, Margaret, the gospel is free, but being a true follower of Christ is costly. And if I ever want to balk, I remember just how costly it was for Jesus. He surrendered all to the will of the Father, all for us. Yeah - for him--well, it cost him everything.
But know this . . . this life with Christ -- the surrendered life -- is the only one that brings true peace. Oh, and did I mention eternity with Him? Yes, Margaret, a home in Heaven for sure!
Christus Victor, Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF5knxzkCVw
He is worth our all,
Christine
Luke, 47
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