Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Cross-The Cost of Discipleship
“And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me
cannot be my disciple”
In today’s
world, success is mostly measured by numbers. Thousands and thousands of people
were following Jesus, probably attracted by his miracles and wonders. However,
Jesus was not concerned with numbers. He knew that among these multitudes were
spectators, superficial followers and true believers. It is at this point he
makes this radical statement in (V.26-27).
You cannot
be a disciple of Jesus until you:
Hate your
family, yourself and your possessions: The word “hatred” is not used to signify animosity.
Instead it specifies the priority or preference we give to these over our love
for God, His Word and His Kingdom. Do our friends and family pose a hindrance
to our spiritual growth? Are we constantly seeking to gain acceptance from
others? Is our hunger for power, popularity and prestige swallowing the time we
should be spending with our Master? Are my constant obsessions with “things”
preventing me from developing a fruitful relationship with Christ? Christ
should the top most priority in our lives and this will cost you relationships,
time and energy.
Carry your
cross daily: Today
crosses come in all shapes and sizes. It’s a popular fashion statement adorning
necks and walls. In Jesus’ time the cross was symbol of suffering, torture and
slow death. Some interpret the “cross in our lives” as the burden we must carry
like a broken relationship, an unpleasant job, a sickness. Instead, the act of
carrying the cross is an act of total submission or “dying to self”. We
identify ourselves with Christ who died on the cross pouring out himself as a
fragrant offering to God. At the cross we crucify our selfish ambitions, egos
and selfishness.
Follow
Jesus: Before one
decides to follow Jesus, he/she must take time to contemplate on the
costs and consequences of discipleship. This is explained with the two parables
– building and battling. Christian life is not a low-cost low-risk option. When
you make the decision to follow Jesus, it is a personal decision. Of course,
you might have been supported or guided by your family, friends, pastor or even
a stranger. The builder in the parable would have had to access to resources
and people to build the tower. Likewise, the king would have been supported by
his army. However, in both cases, the builder and the king are responsible for
their decisions. In the same way, you are the fully responsible for making the
decision to accept or reject Christ.
True
discipleship has a cost and it requires total commitment. If we make a hasty
decision, we might make a mockery of ourselves like the incomplete tower or the
king who loses the battle.
Prayer: O Lord, empower us to respond to the call of
Jesus – to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses, and to follow.
Thought for
the day: “To truly
follow Jesus Christ, we must consider the cost and put Him above everything
else.”
Abin Varghis, St James Mar Thoma Church, LondonA