Luke 14:28 - Counting the Cost.
Luke 14:28 (NLT) But dont 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?
INTRODUCTION
When a builder doesn't count the cost or
estimates it inaccurately, the building may be left
uncompleted. Will you abandon the Christian life after a
little while because you did not count the cost of
commitment to Jesus? What are those costs? Christians
may face loss of social status or wealth. They
may have to give up control of 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
Christ's disciples so that we will firmly hold to our
faith and won't be tempted later to turn back.
[Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
I gained a lot of weight when I first got
married. A lot. From a svelte 130 pounds, I ballooned
to a top weight of 207. I was heavier than I'd
ever been in my life and was completely
miserable.
After my eldest son, Pierce, was born, I
decided I was willing to do anything to lose those
extra pounds. I started walking on my treadmill
and joined Weight Watchers. As a work-at-home
new mom, I didn't have time to go to meetings,
so I did the online version. The handy app
tracked daily points and also provided nutritional
value for the foods I considered eating.
With a swipe of my phone screen, I could
quickly assess the benefit of having, say, an
English muffin at 2 points versus a large blueberry
muffin. Although that seemed healthy enough, it
could be worth as much as a whopping 24 points -
practically a whole day's worth of points! The
difference was striking.
Spiritual choices are like that too. I
can go with the easier, more appetizing, and
self-indulgent choice, or I can weigh the cost, deny my
initial impulse, and do that which is healthier,
more nutritious, and ultimately more satisfying
for my soul.
It took many months, much determination,
and constant prayer, but I weigh 140 today. I
still pause to count points and not just with my
food. Weighing the value of each life decision
over the other, I routinely ask Jesus for grace
to make the better choice. Isabella
Campolattaro
Faith Step: Whatever your temptation, ask
Jesus for the grace to pause, count the cost, and
make the better choice. [Mornings With Jesus 2022
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
I remember hearing that "having kids is
infinitely more demanding than you can anticipate but
infinitely more rewarding too." Boy, this advice is so
true and completely incomprehensible before
having children. Having now had two kids, one with
Down syndrome, I can testify that it's a costly
undertaking in every way. Being a good parent means
exuding more heart, sacrifices, emotional energy,
and money than I could imagine, but reaping way
more joy, satisfaction, and love than I could
anticipate too.
There have been times in my twenty years
of being a Christian when being a believer
seemed very costly. I reluctantly confess that I've
bristled or grieved at the rejections, difficult
choices, or personal sacrifices my life as a
Christian has required. Sometimes these challenges
were hard even if I definitely felt motivated and
empowered to meet them. On the other hand, I've had
extraordinary experiences and rewards that I cannot
quantify - and that's not even counting the promise
of heaven!
Today's Scripture verse is one morsel of
a speech in which Jesus shares a few parables
to describe the cost of discipleship. Later, He
says we must be willing to give up everything to
follow Him. He urges us to count the cost of
following Him. The price is worth every penny.
Isabella Campolattaro
Faith Step: Make a list of what being a
disciple of Jesus has cost you. For each item, list
at least one of the extraordinary rewards you
receive in exchange. [Mornings With Jesus 2022
Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan]
Right now my wife and my mother are
decorating a birthday cake for my daughter. It's a
pretty princess cake. When I peeked in earlier,
they were getting everything ready, checking to
be sure they had everything they needed.
The whole cake business seems pretty
simple to me - you bake it, frost it, eat it. But
apparently, to do the job right, there are steps, lots
of steps. For instance, my wife just told me
that a cake needs to cool down before it's
decorated. Who knew? They aren't just putting some
frosting on the cake and hoping for the best. They're
being very methodical, thinking through each step.
That commitment to doing things right can
be applied to all of us. Whether we're building
or baking or rebooting our lives, we need to
take the time to do the job right. It's important
to make sure we are set up, ready to go, at
each place in our lives before we move on to the
next step.
Let's take a moment to stop and think
about the process. What is it God wants to do in
our lives next?
Heavenly Father, help me to be wise as I
walk through the steps of my life. Show me how to
prepare my heart for each step in its time. In
Jesus' name, amen. [Celebrate Recovery Daily
Devotional by John & Johnny Baker]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Commitments
Do you ever say yes to things and then
wish later with all of your heart that you had
said no? Most of us do that until we learn to
think through all we are already doing and what it
will really require of us to take on another
commitment.
None of us want to disappointment people
who make requests of us, and that can be a good
thing, but if it is carried too far, we end up
frustrated, stressed, and unhappy ourselves.
I am doing an event in the near future
that I said yes to but probably should have said
no. because now I am not looking forward to it
and I feel it is crowding my schedule. But it is
my own fault. I will keep my word because that
is very important, and I will have a good
attitude, and hopefully, I will learn afresh the
importance of saying no when I need to.
I encourage you to take the time to think
through whether or not you have what it takes to
finish something and maintain your peace before you
begin it. Always keep your word, even if you have
to suffer in order to do so.
Father, help me discern when to say yes
and when to say no. I want to finish what I
start and keep my peace at all times. [My Time
with God by Joyce Meyer]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Luke 9:23 - Our Valentine to God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220214-1126.html
Luke 14:33 - Jesus Our All in All.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221113-1022.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
