Here is today’s Bible reading:  Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28.

Luke 14:33 (NIV)
In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

In our desperation to see people become followers of Jesus, we can fall into the trap of presenting to them something less than the Gospel of Jesus.  We accentuate the benefits without clearly communicating the cost.  We portray a Gospel of easy-believism.  Not Jesus.  He spends this portion of Scripture seemingly trying to talk people out of following Him.  He tells them to count the cost.  You see, the Gospel is a free gift that will cost us everything.  Don’t think that you can follow Jesus and hold on to your old life and old self. They must be crucified with Christ so that Christ and then live through you.  Have you given up everything to follow Jesus?  Is the Gospel you are sharing with others a message that clearly communicates the cost?