The Cost of Being a Disciple

It's funny how God often reminds me of different truths during my time here...and often during timely seasons.  I have felt a little lonely through this break time off of school.  I have missed time with friends and just longed for some family around me during my time off of school (partly just to distract me from having to do work all the time...hahaha!).  But, I ended up having a pretty great break.  The first week was a little rough, but after that, Stacy and I spent a lot of times chatting, playing games, hanging out and laughing, we took a trip to Kumasi, got a pedicure...just enjoyed life.  It has been a good break! 

This Sunday, I was reading through this passage of Scripture and was just reminded of God's truth.  Sometimes, I just long for something familiar here, and God is so good to provide that familiarity through the Omorefe family and through the many visitors that pass through our home during the year, but ultimately, God called me here for HIS purposes and the cost of being a disciple isn't always easy.

The Cost of Being a Disciple

²⁵ Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

³⁴ “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.
“Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”


Sometimes the cost of my cross seems too heavy to bear, especially when I'm lonely and longing for my family and friends back home, for the comfort life in the States, for chocolate (haha!).  But the rewards are so sweet.  Everyday, I get to be a part of something SO GREAT!  So, when I measure the cost of leaving my home in the States and carrying my "cross" here in Ghana against the rewards of life as a disciple of Christ--there really isn't any choice.  I've been called and all I can do is respond knowing that God will meet all my needs.

How is God challenging you as you walk out your faith in discipleship?