Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Luke 14:25–33

Every day, we make decisions—big and small—that reflect who we are following. From how we treat others, to how we spend our time, to what we prioritize, every choice says something about who’s leading our life.

It’s easy to say, “I follow Jesus.” But do our day-to-day decisions actually reflect that? Jesus made it clear that following Him is not about convenience or comfort—it’s about commitment. There is a price to following Jesus, and we each have to decide if we’re truly willing to pay that price.

Counting the Cost

In Luke 14:25–33, Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat discipleship. He turns to the large crowds following Him and says something startling:

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.”

(Luke 14:26, ESV)

That’s not exactly the kind of message that draws crowds. But Jesus wasn’t interested in building a fan club; He was calling for followers.

He goes on to say:

“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

(Luke 14:27)

Following Jesus is costly. It’s not a part-time commitment or a Sunday-only faith. It’s an all-in surrender. Jesus tells us to count the cost—just like someone planning to build a tower would first sit down and calculate if they have enough resources to finish it (Luke 14:28–30).

Too many start out strong in faith, but when the cost becomes real—when obedience means sacrifice—they turn back. Jesus is calling us to be the kind of disciples who finish what we start.

What Will It Cost You?

We live in a world that loves comfort, success, and security. We like our faith to fit neatly into our schedules, as long as it doesn’t interfere with our plans. But Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy.

It will cost you your comfort.

It will cost you your pride.

It may even cost you relationships, possessions, and plans you’ve held dear.

Jesus says we must love Him more than our closest relationships. That doesn’t mean we despise our family or friends, but that our devotion to Him should be so great that every other love looks small in comparison.

When we love Jesus first, we actually love others better—because our love is rooted in Him, not in our own need or control.

Taking Up the Cross

We often hear “take up your cross” and think it means enduring a hard situation or personal struggle. But in Jesus’ day, a cross was a symbol of death. To take up your cross meant to die—to self, to sin, to your own agenda.

It means stepping fully into your identity with Christ. It means saying, “My life is no longer my own.”

The Apostle Paul lived this truth out daily. He wrote:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

(Galatians 2:20)

That’s what following Jesus looks like. It’s not about knowing about Him—it’s about knowing Him. You can know He exists, believe He’s the Son of God, even go to church every Sunday, and still not be walking with Him.

To know Him is to walk with Him. To live in daily relationship. To let Him lead—even when it costs you something.

Jesus Paid It All

We like to think salvation is free—and it is. Grace is a gift. You can’t earn it. But while salvation is free to us, it cost Jesus everything.

His sacrifice wasn’t symbolic—it was literal. He left heaven’s glory, took on flesh, and endured the cross for our redemption. When we say yes to following Him, we’re saying yes to the same path: a life of surrender and obedience.

The question is: are we willing to sacrifice for Him the way He sacrificed for us?

No Middle Ground

Jesus doesn’t leave room for half-hearted discipleship.

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

(Luke 14:33)

Those are strong words. The call to follow Jesus isn’t about adding Him to your life—it’s about giving Him your life.

You can’t cling to both the cross and the world. You can’t follow Jesus halfway. Either you surrender everything, or you hold on to what keeps you from Him.

It sounds impossible, doesn’t it? That’s because it is—at least on our own.

We Can’t Do It Without Him

We can’t follow Jesus in our own strength. We can’t love Him more than our family, let go of our possessions, or deny ourselves without the help of the Holy Spirit.

But the good news is: what’s impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27).

The Holy Spirit gives us the desire and the power to obey (Philippians 2:13). He shapes our hearts, transforms our will, and teaches us to walk in daily surrender.

It’s not about perfection—it’s about direction. Every day we choose again: will I follow Jesus today? Will I trust Him enough to let go? Will I obey when it costs me something?

Illustration: The Open Hands

Think of a child holding tightly to a handful of pebbles. They’re small, insignificant stones, but the child clings to them as if they’re treasure. Then a loving parent holds out a sparkling diamond and says, “Give me what’s in your hands, and I’ll give you this instead.”

That’s what God asks of us. He asks us to open our hands—to release what we think is valuable so He can give us something greater. But as long as our fists are clenched, we can’t receive His blessing.

Jesus calls us to give up our small treasures for the eternal treasure of knowing Him.

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

(Matthew 16:25)

Choosing Jesus Daily

Following Jesus isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a daily one. It’s choosing Him over comfort, over control, over compromise. It’s choosing to forgive when you’d rather hold a grudge. To give when it hurts. To love when it’s inconvenient.

It’s choosing to walk by faith when you can’t see what’s ahead.

And each time you choose Jesus, you find that what you gave up was nothing compared to what you gained—peace, purpose, and the presence of God Himself.

A Call to Surrender

If you truly want to follow Jesus, you can start right now. Ask Him to come into your life, to take the lead, and to help you surrender everything that’s holding you back.

Pray:

“Jesus, I give You my life. I lay down my plans, my pride, and my possessions. Help me follow You, even when it’s hard. Give me the strength to carry my cross and to trust You completely. Amen.”

If that’s the decision you’re making today, please reach out. Send me a message or comment below—I would love to talk with you about what it means to truly follow Jesus.

Remember: Jesus loves you so much that He gave everything to save you.

Are you willing to give everything to follow Him?

Live bold. Live set apart. Live for Christ.