November 12, 2024 Daily Dose of Discernment

“Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?” (Luke 14:28)

I've heard people justify not having many children using what Jesus says in the verse above. That if times are hard and it is too expensive to raise children, it's okay to have just one or two for our convenience. Jesus is not talking about lowering kingdom standards here but about having faith and the discipline that goes with walking by it.

When Jesus tells us to count the cost, He's not giving us a choice to obey Him or not. If He wants us to build a tower or to feed five thousand, we don't tell Him we cannot because we have a limited amount of money or that we only have five loaves and two fish. His will is non-negotiable but doable. To count the cost means to decide to follow Him and put our confidence in His grace which gives us the ability to do so. Before He commissions, He blesses. So let us trust and obey.