“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.” Luke 14:28-33

            The cost of following Jesus is everything.  Jesus gave all of himself for us, so he has the right to ask for all of us in return.  When Jesus challenged his disciples in Luke 14, he told them to calculate the cost of following him.  He said everyone calculates the cost of building a tower or laying a foundation.  Kings calculate the cost before going to war, asking the question…is it worth it?

            So is it worth it to give all of yourself to Jesus?  The return is this—you get all of Jesus.  His sacrifice covers all of your sin.  His love envelopes you.  You become a new person (the old is gone).  You receive eternal life.  What’s that worth?  Certainly—all of you.

            What does that mean?  You give up your heart, soul, mind and body.  All his.  You give up your dreams and passions.  All his.  You surrender control over every area of your life.  All his. 

            It costs a lot to follow Jesus, but you get everything you ever need, forever, in return.  That’s worth it.