"27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."
It's a new year, and that usually comes with new goals... Often those goals have to do with weight loss and exercise. I admit, I'm a sucker for those resolutions, and in fact I have a few this year as well! But I want to suggest a goal for weight lifting and cardio. The weight and aerobics? Carrying our crosses and following Jesus.
A couple weeks ago the boys and I covered this topic in our homeschool. They read the verses and talked about planning and counting the cost and building. This was a great bible study and illustration for spiritual truth, as well as a segway to our architecture unit. I gave them 2 bags of sugar cubes, one with 200 cubes, one with 20. Eagerly, they grabbed for the bag with 200 cubes. Mind you, I covered the idea of planning, counting the cost, considering laying cubes like bricks, etc etc. They didn't talk a lot about what they'd build, they just started building. The excitement of all those cubes took over all the talk of planning.
With a little less wind in their sails, they took the bag of 20 cubes, and a paper and pencil. And they planned. They drew up ideas and talked about how to best use those 20 little cubes. And they had success. They built a much better structure!
It was a valuable lesson.
While there was a lot of opportunity for success with so many cubes, it turned out to be a flop because no one counted the cost. And the 20 cubes worked out much better. A lesson is hidden in there for us all. This turned out to hold far more spiritual truth than I could have given them if I'd planned it all out myself. And in turn, I also learned something.
Many of us call ourselves Christian, but have we counted the cost? Do we daily pick up our cross and follow Him? Have we asked Him what it means to be His disciple? In this new year, it seems appropriate that we take that time to ask what that means. People are watching us, and seeing if we've counted the cost.
As if this weren't enough, the pastor at church yesterday taught on this very lesson. I wish I'd e-mailed him these photos to use as an illustration! ;) But I'm guessing God is drilling home this point for me. It's time to dig in and really be His disciple! It's time to lift some weights this year, my own cross. Pastor said that if you are being crucified, you are looking forward, one direction, no turning back.
Galations 2:20
King James Bible
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
New years resolutions are hard. Very easy to start but hard to see through to the finish line. And, hard it may be to die to myself. But that is what is necessary! Count the cost, pick up that cross, don't look back, go one direction only. And be His disciple, letting the world watch in wonder. :) Happy New Year!!!
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