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Texts used – Luke 14:25-33, Psalm 34:8, Luke 9:23-26, John 15:14, John 16:7, I Peter 4:17, Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus put the cost of discipleship front and center. He did not hide the cost of following Him. He was not very “seeker-sensitive”!
Seeing Jesus’ bluntness– why did the crowds stumble over themselves to find Him? He is the pearl of great price; He is the treasure hidden in the field; He is life itself.
What is the cross? It is an instrument of death. In order to take up the cross something inside me has to die. My fleshly desires and sins cannot coexist with following Christ. Jesus wants all of us.
Following Jesus includes keeping His commands. The presence of God gives us the power to obey. This is not works-based, because it is rooted in God’s provision for us.
Judgment is coming– the choice is now. Will we follow Jesus fully, as He asks?
This surrender to Christ has blessings beyond ourselves. Unity in the Church comes about as individuals come to Jesus embracing the cross and yielding their will to Him.