Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  28 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 —   29 lest, after he has laid the 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” . . . So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.  Luke 25:26-30, 33 NKJV

True discipleship is not about prestige, provision, or material comfort; nor is it about your selfish priorities in disobedience to God’s ordained priorities; neither is it about giving in to the pressure of trying to please others. It is one thing—one thing only: following Jesus Christ (Luke 9:57-62; John 8:31-32).  If you pay the cost, you’ll never be lost!

What will it cost to follow Jesus Christ? Is there a price to pay?  Yes, but it isn’t dollars and cents, silver or gold.  It is sacrifice, selflessness, service, and surrender.   In the text above (verse 25), when the multitude wanted to follow Jesus. He outlined the following costs that had to be paid:

1. Verse 26–Sacrifice. Loving your parents, spouse and children, siblings, and even your own life less than you love the Lord (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 12:1-2);

2. Verse 27–Selflessness. Denying self in the face of tests, trials, tribulations. When the “old man” rears up his ugly head, you must refuse to give-in to selfish desires but rather yield to the fruit of Spirit (Gal. 5:22);

3. Verse 28–Service. Begins with a willingness to serve and build something particularly in the Kingdom of God (Matt. 20:26b -28). If called has called you to lead,  then understand that servant leadership is not people serving you, but you serving people; and,

4. Verse 33–Surrender. To give up control and totally yield to the Lord (Matt. 19:27-29). Although salvation is free, being a disciple of Jesus exacts a cost—a price to be paid. It is the devil who seduces you to believe that there is no price to be paid to follow Christ. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you! (James 4:7).