Luke 14:28-33 New International Version (NIV)
28 “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? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ 31 “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? 32 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. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Wednesday - March 3
The “cost” of discipleship is “renouncing.” It means renouncing whatever we think we have to offer or what we think we can do. This short parable of Jesus about building a tower or gathering an army has NOTHING to do with making wise plans! It’s all about assessing your true, hopeless state of affairs. Sure, the army of Kenya has guns. They probably have some tanks, maybe some warships, and even fighter jets. Do you think they stand a chance against the US military? Like a king whose army is small, weak, and powerless, seek out terms of peace by trusting in the cross of Christ alone!