April 1st, 2025
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Counting the Cost
The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on condition that the instrument never be played again. What an unfortunate condition. That particular violin is made of an unusual type of wood that, as long as it is used and handled, shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.
Jesus called us to a life of service. Let me rephrase that; Jesus called us to a lifelong service to God and to man. He called us to be salt to a world that has lost its flavor. He called us to be light in a world that has grown dark. He called us to spend our lives for him as long as he is in our lives.
In Luke 14:25-35 Jesus tells the crowds that anyone desiring to be his disciple (student) must count the cost. The cost is to love him more than anyone or anything in their lives, including family and themselves. He expresses the need to count that cost in the same way the builder must fully prepare to pay the price for the building (tower) he before he starts. If he fails to do so, his building will be left incomplete and end in ruins, not to mention leaving the builder open to public ridicule. He gives the example of a king determining whether he is able to pay the price in human life to do battle with an enemy king who outnumbers him 2 to 1. He explains that a wise king who realizes he cannot afford the price will send a delegation to negotiate a treaty.
It seems to me that the average church member in America today has no desire to pay any price, much less the price of a life surrendered to Christ. We have fostered a society of “pew potatoes” and “religious spectators.” In the earlier verses Jesus tells about an invitation to a feast in which every invitee makes an excuse for not attending. Excuses seem to be the mindset of the uncommitted every day. No wonder Jesus wanted us to count the cost.
We often forget that Christ has given us more than his best. He gave us himself. He paid the price for our sins through his death on the cross. He left his comfort zone for the most uncomfortable zone possible; life in human flesh and in a life of a committed servant. He counted the highest cost and paid it all for you and for me.
When we function within the committed, surrendered life for Christ, he plays us like a finely crafted instrument. We are beautiful and useful beyond our greatest dreams. But, when we are no longer available to the Master Musician, we shrivel up and stop making his music to the world. We get filled with spiritual wood worms and lose our tune. This is why counting and paying the cost of discipleship is vital to our value. We cannot afford to have a life withdrawn.
This Sunday morning we will look at this powerful text and see how we can accept and pay The Price Tag of Discipleship just like Jesus did. See you then.
Counting with you,
Jon
Counting the Cost
The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa -- the city of his birth -- but only on condition that the instrument never be played again. What an unfortunate condition. That particular violin is made of an unusual type of wood that, as long as it is used and handled, shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.
Jesus called us to a life of service. Let me rephrase that; Jesus called us to a lifelong service to God and to man. He called us to be salt to a world that has lost its flavor. He called us to be light in a world that has grown dark. He called us to spend our lives for him as long as he is in our lives.
In Luke 14:25-35 Jesus tells the crowds that anyone desiring to be his disciple (student) must count the cost. The cost is to love him more than anyone or anything in their lives, including family and themselves. He expresses the need to count that cost in the same way the builder must fully prepare to pay the price for the building (tower) he before he starts. If he fails to do so, his building will be left incomplete and end in ruins, not to mention leaving the builder open to public ridicule. He gives the example of a king determining whether he is able to pay the price in human life to do battle with an enemy king who outnumbers him 2 to 1. He explains that a wise king who realizes he cannot afford the price will send a delegation to negotiate a treaty.
It seems to me that the average church member in America today has no desire to pay any price, much less the price of a life surrendered to Christ. We have fostered a society of “pew potatoes” and “religious spectators.” In the earlier verses Jesus tells about an invitation to a feast in which every invitee makes an excuse for not attending. Excuses seem to be the mindset of the uncommitted every day. No wonder Jesus wanted us to count the cost.
We often forget that Christ has given us more than his best. He gave us himself. He paid the price for our sins through his death on the cross. He left his comfort zone for the most uncomfortable zone possible; life in human flesh and in a life of a committed servant. He counted the highest cost and paid it all for you and for me.
When we function within the committed, surrendered life for Christ, he plays us like a finely crafted instrument. We are beautiful and useful beyond our greatest dreams. But, when we are no longer available to the Master Musician, we shrivel up and stop making his music to the world. We get filled with spiritual wood worms and lose our tune. This is why counting and paying the cost of discipleship is vital to our value. We cannot afford to have a life withdrawn.
This Sunday morning we will look at this powerful text and see how we can accept and pay The Price Tag of Discipleship just like Jesus did. See you then.
Counting with you,
Jon
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