What is the cost?
Luke 14:27 “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
“How much does it 
cost?” That is a question which you very likely ask in various situations in life. You want to know if you can afford the item you’re looking at or you want to be sure you are not getting ripped off. There have probably been some times when you realize you should have asked that question and likely even regret that you didn’t.
We ask how much it costs when it comes to our car, our house, car repairs, new furniture and many more things. But have you ever asked that question when it comes to your spiritual life? Think for a moment about this question: “What does it cost me to be a Christian?”. We’re not talking about dollars and cents. Rather, we are talking about the sacrifice which it takes to be a Christian. That is what Jesus is talking about in our Bible verse for this week when he tells us “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”.
Think of the sacrifice which Jesus made to pay for our sins and guarantee us a place in heaven. He gave up the glories of heaven and came down to this sinful earth to die a criminal’s death on a cross. The very same Jesus who carried the cross which he died on tells us who desire to follow him that we need to be ready and willing to carry our own cross.
No, this probably doesn’t mean that we will have to carry a heavy wooden object in the shape of a “t”. “Carrying a cross” is symbolic for a challenge we will have to face or a sacrifice we will have to make for our faith. Do you have friends who make fun of you or don’t hang around you as much as they once did because they don’t like you living your life to the praise and honor of God? Are you perhaps ridiculed because you won’t join in the gossip or other sinful behavior of others? Have you had people even challenge you about why you work at a Christian ministry when in their eyes they think you could make so much more or have much more fun working elsewhere?
This is exactly what Jesus is talking about when he tells us “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”. He doesn’t promise us it will be easy this side of heaven, but then our goal is not to be popular or rich in this life. Our goal is to gain eternal life in heaven and that takes sacrifice.
These hymn verses serves as an appropriate prayer on this subject:
Jesus, I my cross have taken, All to leave and follow you.
Destitute, despised, forsaken, You on earth once suffered, too.
Perish ev’ry fond ambition, All I’ve ever hoped or known;
Yet how rich is my condition! God and heav’n are still my own.
Let the world despise and leave me; They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me; You are not, like them, untrue.
And since you have smiled upon me, God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends may shun me—Show your face, and all is bright.
Go, then, earthly fame and treasure! Come, disaster, scorn, and pain!
In your service pain is pleasure; With your favor loss is gain.
I have called you Abba, Father! You my all in all shall be.
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather; All must work for good to me.
Haste, my soul, from grace to glory, Armed by faith and winged by prayer.
All but heav’n is transitory; God’s own hand shall guide you there.
Soon shall end this earthly story; Swift shall pass the pilgrim days,
Hope soon change to heav’nly glory, Faith to sight and prayer to praise.