23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 14:25-33 NLT ~ count the cost

Gospel Reading: Luke 14:25-33 NLT

A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison — your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.

Unfinished Structure on Staten Island, NY (sat idle for two years) — Unfinished Structure on Staten Island, NY
(sat idle for two years)

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’

“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him? And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away. So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.”

Prayer: Lord God – In whatever situation we find ourselves today… may we discover your Kingdom purpose… count the cost… then take up the cross you have given us… and follow you. No regrets… no turning back… pressing onward to your upward call in Christ Jesus… who is our Life and our Blessed Hope. May we honor you in all things. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Give Me Jesus” – Matt Stinton; Bethel Music

Morning Reading: Luke 9.57-62 NLT – Kingdom duty

Reading: Luke 9.57-62 NLT

As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”

The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”

Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – So many distractions… so many good things to do. Give me the courage to sacrifice the good for the best – following you wherever you lead me. May I honor you in all things. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” – Selah (YouTube)

I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus, I have decided to follow Jesus — no turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me, the world behind me, the cross before me — no turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, I still will follow, though none go with me, I still will follow, though none go with me, I still will follow, no turning back, no turning back.

Morning Reading: Luke 5.27-32 NLT – calling sinners

Reading: Luke 5.27-32 NLT

“The Calling of St. Matthew”
by Hendrick Terbrugghen, c. 1621

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me Your love and compassion for lost souls. Make me an instrument of Your mercy and grace. Give me Your eyes to see, Your words to speak, and Your kindness to welcome the sick and weary back home… into Your family. Amen.

Hymn: “Softly and Tenderly” – Will L. Thompson (1880)

Please click on audio link – “Softly and Tenderly” by Bart Millard