The Gospel reading reminds us that one of the things needed to be a disciple of Christ, is to reconcile our hearts and minds that Jesus and the Bible are interconnected. Many Christians think that simply believing that Jesus is the Saviour makes them a Christian; they have been convinced that having faith in
Jesus and not completely believing in God’s Word (or doing what it really asks) in its entirely is acceptable. This makes no sense.
This passage, “The Cost of Discipleship”, illustrates the devotion Jesus requires of us and explains that we must prioritise our relationship with him first and not elevate ourselves, loved ones or worldly things above him. Our salvation comes at a price, we must align ourselves
with the teachings of Scripture and give our whole self to God.
There are some denominations and church leaders that water down the Gospel and preach confusing Scripture teachings, telling the congregation what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Whatever the reason for this, whether to grow numbers or to reach more people, the congregation are given false hope about salvation in
Christ.
Jesus invites and encourages us to stop and consider the cost of accepting his gift of salvation. The two parables he uses in this passage are good examples of how to evaluate all the facts before making a wise decision based on careful thought, consideration and discernment. A decision about our salvation that is authentic and theologically sound. It is our personal responsibility to be a faithful
disciple of Jesus.
