Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Luke 14:25–33

There’s a price to be paid to follow Christ.

When we look at different Bible translations of this passage, we see a common theme in their titles: “The Cost of Being a Disciple.” “The Cost of Discipleship.” “Leaving All to Follow Christ.” “Discipleship Tested.” They all have one thing in common—discipleship costs something.

We Like It to Sound Easy

In our culture today, we often ask people to make a decision for Christ. We tell them to accept Jesus as their Savior. We assure them of a better life and a future in heaven. But we often leave out something Jesus never did—the cost.

We want it to sound simple. Easy. Comfortable.

But following Jesus isn’t about adding Him to your life—it’s about giving Him your life.

Jesus didn’t call people simply to avoid hell; He called them to follow Him—to enter a life-changing, soul-transforming relationship that would reshape every part of who they are.

Salvation and Discipleship

Jesus calls people to Himself to follow Him as disciples. Salvation is the gift we receive in Him (John 3:16), but discipleship is the life that flows from that gift.

It’s not just about escaping judgment—it’s about knowing Him, being made new in Him, and joining Him in His mission.

Many treat salvation as a one-time transaction:

Raise your hand.

Say a prayer.

You’re in.

But when we look at Jesus’ words, we see something much deeper. He never lowered the bar to make following Him easy—in fact, He raised it.

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

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?”

— Luke 14:27–28

That’s not just a call to say a prayer—that’s a call to surrender your whole life.

Counting the Cost

It takes time to calculate the cost of a project. You don’t make that kind of decision in an emotional moment. You sit down, look at the details, consider the price, and decide if you’re willing to pay it.

That’s what Jesus asks us to do with our lives.

Sometimes that price means giving up something else to meet the goal. It may mean loss, discomfort, or sacrifice.

So what is the cost of following Jesus?

In a single word: everything.

There is no middle ground, no compromise. He wants your days, your nights, your time, your money, your effort, your wants, your desires, your hopes, your dreams, your goals, your perspectives, your preferences, your family, your schedule, your habits, your reactions, your coping mechanisms—your very self.

Every moment. In every situation. Day after day. For as long as you live.

Following Jesus costs us everything.

Following Means Surrender

We must be willing to lay aside anything and everything that keeps us from being fully His. We must be willing to cheerfully do whatever He asks of us, trusting that His ways are better than ours.

Following and trusting Him isn’t easy. But it’s time we stop preaching an easy gospel.

We don’t always understand why God asks what He asks. We don’t always see how obedience will make sense. But following Jesus doesn’t require us to understand—it requires us to trust.

It’s walking by faith in complete surrender.

Discipleship Will Cost You

Let’s be honest—it’s easy to cheer for Jesus when the crowd is big and the blessings are flowing. But when He says, “Take up your cross and follow Me,” that’s where most people stop.

Following Jesus means putting Him before everything else—before comfort, before possessions, before even your closest relationships. That’s hard. That’s costly. But that’s discipleship.

The call to follow Jesus isn’t an emotional moment—it’s a daily decision. It’s saying yes to surrender, yes to obedience, and yes to transformation.

The Real Question

So the question we should be asking isn’t, “Did I pray a prayer?”

It’s, “Am I being transformed because of that prayer?”

Am I actually following Jesus?

Because Jesus doesn’t just call us to believe in Him—He calls us to become more like Him.

And that means sacrifice. That means change. That means counting the cost and choosing Him anyway.

The Reward Is Worth the Cost

It’s not easy to give up control or to lay down your plans. But Jesus promises that whoever loses their life for His sake will find it (Matthew 16:25).

When you follow Him fully, you find peace, purpose, and power in His presence. The cost is high—but the reward is greater.

Lead Like Jesus

Just as a mentor once taught me that real leadership flows from servanthood, Jesus taught us the same truth.

He led by serving.

He loved deeply.

He gave everything.

He didn’t come to be served but to serve—and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).

When He calls us to follow Him, He’s not asking us to do anything He hasn’t already done.

He carried the cross first.

He paid the ultimate price.

He showed us what real love looks like.

The Challenge

Discipleship isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. It will stretch you, test you, and cost you something precious. But what you gain—a deeper walk with Christ—is worth every sacrifice.

So today, ask yourself:

What is Jesus calling me to surrender?

What’s standing between me and wholehearted obedience?

Am I following Him—or am I just familiar with Him?

Because following Jesus will cost you something.

But not following Him will cost you everything.

Live bold.

Live set apart.

Live for Christ.