TOPIC:‌"The Cost of a Radical Commitment"

                  by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap

 

TEXT:‌St. Luke 9:57-62

 

"And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto Him, Lord, I will follow thee, whithersoever thou goest" (9:57).

 

‌Two stories I heard years ago come to my attention as I begin this message. They both illustrate the shallowness and superficiality that many people have regarding genuine Christian commitment. The first deals with a man who said, "I love work. I could sit all day and watch other people work." This man watched but was not willing to work. The second story is reported to have taken place during the Civil War. A man said, "I have already given several uncles and cousins to the army and war, and I am prepared to give some more." This man was willing to send but not willing to serve.

 

‌Now there is some humor in these two stories, but all too often that is the feeling of many when it comes to making themselves available in following Christ and offering themselves for Christian service. But this lack of depth on the part of some would-be disciples is not some modern-day discovery. It was practiced long ago when Jesus walked on this earth by those who only outwardly wanted to be His disciple. In reality, they were not inwardly ready to make a radical commitment of their lives to Jesus Christ. The cost was too great!

 

‌And get this: Even some of those who did follow Jesus later defected from their commitment and discipleship. We read these words in John chapter 6 verse 66: "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him." They gave up! It was going to be too costly. And knowing the high cost of following Him, in the very next verse Jesus looked at the original twelve disciples and asked them, "Will ye also go away"? (v. 67).

 

‌In the verses before us, three men expressed a desire to become followers of Jesus. Attention should be given to the fact that two of the three men voluntarily offered their services to Christ, while the other man was called directly by Christ to follow Him. Now I believe their intentions were genuine and their actions were real. The problem was, like many of us, they did not have a clear understanding of the cost of such a commitment.

 

‌It must be realized at this point that the context seems to indicate that none of these would-be disciples were accepted by Christ, and for good reasons. Let us carefully look at the reasons for in them we may see ourselves and the remedy to correct the problem.

 

I.

 

‌Consider, first of all, the prospective disciple who was IMPULSIVE . . .