So we think we are disciples?

I watched a sermon by Pastor Bert Pretorius on TBN last night and he read from Luke 14:25-35. I've read it before but it never really made an impact on me. I think most of us just gloss over it because we don't want to face the cost of being a disciple of Christ.

Jesus was becoming popular and large crowds followed Him. So He spoke to them about what it really means to be His disciple.

Verse 33 of Luke 14 says:

So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Read that again.

What a powerful statement! Jesus definately did not try to win popularity contests!

Most of us know we are not ready to give up everything we own..
Aren't most of our prayers cries for help with our finances?
"Lord, help me pay the rent so I don't lose my house"
"Lord, help me pay the water & electricity bill so they don't cut us off."
"Lord, help me pay my car payment, so I don't lose my car."

But remember the other promise Jesus made:

Matthew 6:33 (New Living Translation)

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

To read about the cost of being a disciple, see the scripture quoted below:

Luke 14:25-33 (New Living Translation)

The Cost of Being a Disciple

25 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, 26 “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. 27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

28 “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? 29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. 30 They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

31 “Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? 32 And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.