Discipleship Gets More Costly Every Year

I put my 19-year old daughter on a plane to South Africa last month. She is serving in an AIDS orphanage for nine weeks. It was not too emotional for me because I knew she would be home soon.  But I wonder how I would feel if she returned with news that God had called her to move to South Africa permenantly. At present, it is just an exciting missions adventure; then it would be a major life change. Am I ready for that?

A few days after contemplating this possibility, I was researching the life of Francis Asbury, the first leader of the Methodist church in America. When Asbury was 26, he responded to John Wesley’s call for missionaries to go to America. As he boarded the ship for America, his devout Methodist father wept openly, fearing he would never see his son again. He never did.

It cut me to the heart when I read that. I wonder how painful it would be to say goodbye to your son for the last time.

Fortunately, travel has improved since 1771. If my daughter left, I would certainly see her again. But not nearly enough. And what about when she marries and has children? How often would I see my grandchildren?

While reflecting on these things I turned to Jesus’ call to discipleship.

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me, and anyone who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37, 38)

I first read these words thirty years ago when I responded to the call to make Jesus the Lord of my life. I was a nineteen-year-old college student with hardly a penny to my name. Sure, I had to surrender everything to Him, but there was not much to surrender. But it is different now. Jesus still wants everything, but it seems there is a lot more to give.

Discipleship gets more costly every year.