IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Cost of Being a Disciple

Date: Jul. 18, 2017

Passage

Luke 14:25-35  (ESV)

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “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. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 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? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 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? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 14:27

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

1. To be Jesus' disciple (25-27)

Jesus did not seek popularity with the large crowds. He wanted committed disciples, so he said some challenging words. No one can be Jesus' disciple unless he puts Jesus first. Jesus must have priority over even the closest of human ties--even over one's very life. Jesus calls us to live a life of mission. Each of us must take up his cross and follow Jesus. We cannot just live a religious life with no decision of faith and no commitment.

2. Count the cost (28-35)

Suppose someone wants to go to college, that person must count the cost--the money, the effort and the time involved. Being Jesus' disciple also requires commitment and sacrifice. But it's worth it. The uncommitted life is not worth living--it is like tasteless salt. One should not try to follow Jesus without making a decision to give up everything for Jesus' sake and the gospel's.

Prayer: Lord, so many people think that an uncommitted life is a life of freedom. But your word teaches us that a life uncommitted to Jesus is slavery. Help me to challenge the relativism of the times and be your disciple.

One Word: Following Jesus is worth any cost

Daily Bread

Complacent or Victorious?

Revelation 3:1-13

Key Verse: 3:5

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

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