So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33

Rising costs have us all taking a second look at our budget. How are we to manage skyrocketing costs at every turn, with our income failing to rise as quickly as our budget? Years ago, as my husband and I raced to pay off our mortgage, we became very good at stretching a penny. ‘Meatless Mondays,’ that were far more often than just Monday, and free entertainment were commonplace. Figuring out how to make it through the week took a lot of time and thought. We sacrificed comfort and fun to meet the bills we had due. Much of America is facing the same kinds of decisions as we deal with higher prices and lower availability of products.

Being a true disciple of Jesus has costs much higher than many of us expected. And yet, Christ very plainly explained the cost of becoming one of His disciples. In the 14th chapter of Luke, He gave a detailed explanation of what would be expected of His followers.

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Jesus informed His listeners that really following Him required putting every single thing they had behind their dedication to Him. A disciple of Christ must love Him more than their own family, and more even than themselves. A true disciple must be willing to put his or her physical and mental desires behind the duties of following our Lord. Their time, their wealth, their freedom must all be willingly laid down, and they must become a slave to the Lord.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

No one wants to be known as someone who doesn’t finish what they started, and, in this case, the results of failing to live a life for Christ, after receiving our salvation have far reaching consequences. Our lives, whether we like it or not, mean something to those who are watching us as Christians. When we falter or fail in our walk, or even simply decide that it isn’t as important as it once was, we are teaching those that are learning from us that such behavior is acceptable. If I complain about attending church services, my children may skip some. If my children skip church services, my grandchildren may rarely go. If my grandchildren rarely attend, my great-grandchildren may not know the Lord at all. Our continual prayer should be: Lord, please help my faith be constant, if it isn’t, the price could be higher than I can bear.

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Being a true disciple of our Lord requires a foresight and understanding of what we can expect. Just as no one would go to war without understanding the possibilities, we should be completely aware of what will happen when we fully surrender our lives to Christ and allow Him to lead in every area.

• You will find that some people have a problem with your new life.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:18-19
You problems may come from unbelievers, but most likely, it will be brothers and sisters in Christ who have not made that leap into full surrender. I know that those friends of mine who I formally referred to as “super Christians” tended to anger me. I was frustrated with their behavior, and although they never judged me or commented on my choices, their lives brought condemnation on me and I felt it, even if I was unwilling to admit it.

• You will be flooded with more blessings than you can ever imagine.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. Mark 10:29-30 Walking closely with the One who created you may very well cost you some of the things you’re used to right now, but the blessings that flow from above will make the memory of what you’ve lost dim by comparison.

He is good, all the time. Taking that leap into total surrender may be hard, but He is faithful to bless when you do.