"The Cost of Following Christ"

Luke 9:23 "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."
Being a follower of Jesus Christ has some serious expense to it. The verse I have just quoted reminds one of the seriousness of being a follower of Christ. Luke gives a glimpse of what Christ and His disciples discussed as He discipled them.
In chapter 9 of Luke's gospel, Luke gives the narrative of Jesus sending out the disciples to preach the gospel and heal the lame. He tells the miracle of Jesus feeding the five thousand, then Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ. Jesus then foretells He must suffer many things, be rejected, killed, and rise the third day. Luke also writes the account that Jesus gives His disciples, if they are truly going to follow Him they will have to die as well.
The cost of following Christ is a cost many do not consider. In modern Christianity, the message is, "follow Jesus He will give you a better life now." When in fact, coming to Jesus may cause you much suffering and pain. Luke writes of three necessities in following Christ:
-1- You will have to "deny yourself." This is not the message of the majority of modern day preachers we hear on television.We hear, "Jesus loves you" (and He does), Jesus wants us to be wealthy, He wants to bless you, He wants to have a good life now." The only problem is a person can be healthy, wealthy, and be happy; die and go to hell. This is the opposite of what God's word teaches. When a person is saved by the grace of God, He has been chosen to die to himself. I remind our congregation all the time, this is not about us, it is all about Him! Therefore, we must "deny ourselves."
-2- Notice secondly, Jesus tells His disciples to, "take up their cross." This would be equally known to us, if Jesus said, "take up your electric chair." The cross in Luke's day was an instrument of torture, shame, suffering, and death. Another words Jesus says, "if you want to follow me you are going to have to die to yourself." Again, we hear little of this type of Jesus today.
-3- Thirdly, Luke tells us of how often one must deny himself and die. He says "daily." In order to walk with the Savior one must die to himself daily. One must put the bridle on his fleshly desires and lusts. This is not easy seeing we still carry this sinful flesh around as believers. But it can be achieved as the Holy Spirit lives and dwells in all His children. "...For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).
As you study the deaths of the disciples who followed Jesus it begins to make sense what Jesus was teaching in Luke 9. For all the Apostles died a martyrs death, for being a follower of Christ. What about Jesus Himself? He died a shameful death for sinners. So the next time you here a preacher say, "if you want a better life come to Jesus." Be for certain he say does not understand "the cost of following Jesus." Following Christ requires an awful
more than most would presume! To God Be the Glory!