The sermon this morning was from Luke 9 on the theme of being active for Christ or being an active disciple of Christ. Rev Roger Bray talked about its call, cost and commitment.
When someone addressed Jesus and told him that he will follow Jesus (v.57), Jesus replied most unexpectedly. He did not say "that's great" or "wonderful, let us fix a time and help you with your bible reading." Even though that is important, he cut to the chase and went straight to the cost of following him (v.58-62).
It is costly to follow Jesus. It is putting him above everything in our lives, everything.
Rev Bray quoted this scene from the movie The Fellowship of the Ring to stress on the cost and the commitment of following Jesus.
Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened...
Gandalf: So do all who lived to see such times...but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
What do we do with our lives that God has given us here? What does it mean for us to follow him?
It is very challenging to follow Jesus. It is very costly; it costs our everything. We may not walk the paths of martyrs or missionaries or even pastors. Each of us have our own path to walk as ordered and directed by God. But the cost is high nonetheless.
And for us to walk in that path, Jesus has committed himself to us to be his disciples. He had sent his disciples out with the Holy Spirit, he will do the same with us. Whilst we are not able to cannot carry the cross, he carried it for us. He died in our place and only he can do that for us. We can't do it by ourselves. He is the one who empowers us.
The cost may be high, but he enables us.
pearlie
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