Today’s scripture: Luke 14:27–33 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Keith Phillips):
Lent is the opportunity to journey spiritually with Jesus, moving toward the events of Good Friday and Easter. Mostly, we associate Lent with giving up something. I’ve never really done that much. Except for that one year in college, when I gave up food for Lent; I just drank beer. Since I saved a whole lot of money on food, I really can’t call that much of a sacrifice.
This teaching of Jesus is THE classic passage for Lent with its emphasis on sacrifice as we follow Jesus: “Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).
The Discipleship 101 course at LifeJourney Church reiterates week after week that becoming a Christian means being willing to put Jesus before everything/everyone else and following him. Discipleship is costly, sacrificial. Following Jesus is more important than my money and my stuff, more important than what my friends or family members think, more important than making the church the center of my life, more important than my plans for the future. Following Jesus is about being willing to give up something; in fact, it’s about being willing to give up everything.
When I was growing up, to become a Christian meant that I made the decision “to invite Jesus into my heart.” It was “cheap grace” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s term). In the two parables here, Jesus makes it very clear that becoming his disciple is costly. In the first parable, Jesus points out that nobody builds something without first determining the cost. If you’re not willing to spend what’s necessary, then your project will be incomplete. You will fail and look like a fool. In the second parable, Jesus points out that nobody chooses to take on a more powerful force without first determining the cost. If you don’t have the resources to subdue the other, then you need to find out what the cost to surrender is and pay it.
In the first parable, Jesus poses the question, “Can you afford to do what I ask and follow me?” In the second parable, Jesus poses the question, “Can you afford not to do what I ask and follow me?”
John Stott, an Anglican priest and leader of the worldwide evangelical movement in the second half of the twentieth century, wrote that “thousands of people still ignore Christ’s warning and undertake to follow him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so. The result is the great scandal of Christendom today, so-called ‘nominal Christianity.”
Lent is the opportunity to journey spiritually with Jesus, moving toward the events of Good Friday and Easter. Lent is the opportunity to reflect on our own willingness to carry the cross, to sacrifice all that’s requested, and to follow Jesus into death with the hope of the resurrection, into God’s purpose and blessing for us. This journey happens a step at a time. As we follow Jesus day-by-day, the Holy Spirit guides and empowers us to surrender what’s in the way and to engage in costly discipleship.
Thought for the day: Jesus said, “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple” (Luke 14:33; The Message). I don’t think he was kidding.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.