Count the Cost … Worth It? – September 7, 2025

One key truth: Following Jesus means fully committing to him. It’s all in—a passion project worth finishing no matter the cost.

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:25,27

Count the Cost … Worth It?

What is a project you poured your passion and whole heart into and completed? Maybe it was building a Lego set, finishing a season of a sport, beating a video game, or completing a big school project. Now think—what’s something you started but never finished? Maybe you lost interest, ran out of time, or just didn’t have the energy. Which project—the finished one or the unfinished one—would you be more excited to show off to others? An unfinished project can feel like failure. A finished one gives a sense of pride. When we show people our work, it represents who we are and what we are capable of.

Jesus attracted a large crowd of not just regular people, but also the big-name religious leaders who thought they had it all together. He warned all of them that following him meant carrying a cross.

Everyone listening knew what a cross meant—it was brutal, humiliating, and designed to erase someone from history. Yet, Jesus asks everyone to take one up. That’s a shocking thing for Jesus to say: “If you follow me, be ready to carry this.”

Here’s the question: What is more valuable—holding on to your sins or your commitment to Jesus? The “easy” answer is commitment to Jesus, of course. But the truth? Our sinful nature makes it really hard.

Here’s an example: how often do you let people know you follow Jesus? Do you talk about him with friends or family, or does the thought of awkwardness shut you down? That’s our sinful nature making it hard! Nobody likes drama or arguments, so silence can feel easier.

But silence is exactly where the devil sneaks in. The Bible calls him “the father of lies.” When we live and speak like Jesus, those lies get exposed by God’s truth.

You’ve already got God’s Word! You’ve already heard the truth! You have the words of truth given in God’s Word! Jesus ends this teaching with, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear” (Luke 14:34). You’ve heard. You believe. Now Jesus challenges you: make your faith your passion project. Don’t quit halfway. See it through to completion.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you have given me the tools in your Word and the blessings of my abilities to carry out your will for my life. Give me courage to live my faith openly and not quit when it gets tough. Help me treat following you as the most important project of my life—and to finish strong. Amen.