HOW TO BE A COMMITTED DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST - PART 2 Luke 14vs27-35: And whoever does not bear his cross and come after ME cannot be MY disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the 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 to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be MY disciple. Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! THE LORD JESUS CHRIST spoke this teaching to get the crowds to think through their enthusiasm for HIM. HE encouraged those who were superficial or shallow, either to go deeper or to turn back. The same thing goes for us, The End-Time Church. FOLLOWING CHRIST means TOTAL SUBMISSION to HIM - perhaps even to the POINT OF DEATH. When a builder doesnt count the cost or estimates it inaccurately, his building may be left half completed. WILL YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE BE ONLY HALF BUILT AND THEN ABANDONED BECAUSE YOU DID NOT COUNT THE COST OF COMMITMENT TO JESUS? WHAT ARE THOSE COST? CHRISTIANS MAY FACE LOSS OF SOCIAL STATUS OR WEALTH. THEY MAY HAVE TO GIVE UP CONTROL OVER THEIR MONEY, THEIR TIME, OR THEIR CAREER. THEY MAY BE HATED, SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILY, AND EVEN PUT TO DEATH. FOLLOWING CHRIST DOES NOT MEAN A TROUBLE-FREE LIFE. WE MUST CAREFULLY COUNT THE COST OF BECOMING CHRISTS DISCIPLES, SO THAT WE WILL KNOW WHAT WE ARE GETTING INTO AND WONT BE TEMPTED LATER TO TURN BACK. .....TO BE CONTINUED.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 07:35:27 +0000