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SCRIPTURE READING
PSALM 139:1-6, 13-18
PHILEMON 1:8-21
LUKE 14:25-33

SUNDAY REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “bearing the cost of discipleship.” A disciple is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. The cost of discipleship is the suffering, challenges, or burdens a person must carry or incur on account of following Jesus or becoming His disciple. The theme can thus be rephrased, enduring suffering or challenges resulting from following Christ. In today’s reflection, we shall identify the cost of discipleship and the blessing of bearing the cost of discipleship. We shall discuss the following points:

1. Forsaking all and enduring hardship on account of Jesus Christ is a cost of discipleship.
2. Imprisonment and discomfort are cost of discipleship.
3. Forgiving and reconciling with offenders is a cost discipleship
4. God’s thoughts towards us are precious even as we bear the cost of discipleship.

Firstly, forsaking family or denying family to become a disciple of Christ is a big cost and a decision one has to make. The love we have for our family members is so strong that we may turn to lose focus in our journey as disciples of Christ. In other words, because “blood is thicker than water,” we may become sympathetic and influenced by family even to the point of compromising our call and service to God. Again, our individual interests and pursuit of pleasure may also compromise our call and discipleship. It is for this reason Jesus admonishes us that ” “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. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-26). In other words, when one takes a decision to follow Jesus, blood is no longer thicker than water, but the baptismal water becomes thicker than blood such that our relationship with Jesus as Lord and Saviour supersedes all other relationships and interests in this world. In Christ, we live and endure all manner of social rejection and self-denial to the glory of God. The cross is a symbol of suffering, therefore the cost of discipleship is to carry the cross of choosing Christ over family and personal pleasures and gains. Ultimately, your family may also reject you for choosing Christ, and that is a cross or cost we must endure for the sake of our salvation and discipleship.

Secondly, imprisonment and discomfort are other costs of disciples. Some of the disciples of Jesus who became the Apostles of the early Church were arrested, imprisoned, persecuted and tortured. Paul was not an exception for he wrote that “It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. (Philemon 1:9-10). In other words, at the time Paul wrote his letter to Philemon he was in prison on account of preaching the Gospel or being a disciple of Christ. Following Christ may sometimes render us vulnerable to attacks and persecution and these are part of bearing the cost of discipleship.

Thirdly, it is hard to be offended and yet overlook the offence, forgive and reconcile with the offender. This is one of the costs of discipleship and the emotional cross we must carry. In Paul’s letter to Philemon, we learn that Onesimus was once upon a time a slave to Philomen but took something precious belonging to his master and escaped. Onesimus was later arrested and jailed. During his time in prison, he met Paul who preached and nurtured him to become a disciple of Christ. Paul now sends Onismus to Philemon who was also a disciple of Christ and a church elder. Paul made a passionate appeal to Philemon to forgive Onesimus and reconcile with him and “have him back forever— no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother.” (Philemon 1:15-16). Usually, we forgive those who have wronged us but keep a distance from them, however, in Philemon’s case, he is to forgive and receive his former slave as his brother because they have both become disciples and coworkers of Christ. How will the society at the time see Philimon? The cost of Philemon’s discipleship was to endure criticism from society for condescending to the level of a slave or elevating a slave to his status. Philemon would have to endure insults and embarrassment from his cohorts but most importantly forgive Onismus, who did not return what he stole from him. Following Jesus is indeed a challenging and costly decision. Without the empowering of the Holy Spirit and obedience to the teachings of Christ, it is impossible to please God.

Fourthly, we are assured that God cares about us and His thoughts towards are are precious even in times of bearing the cost of discipleship. We receive this assurance when the Psalmist testified, ” For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well…How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them! ¹⁸ Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.” (Psalms 139:13-14,17-18). God our creator will always be with us in our challenging times. He will grant us the strength to endure the cost of discipleship until that day where we shall say with Paul that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

In summary, the cost of discipleship are; forsaking all and enduring hardship on account of Jesus, endure persecution and imprisonment if there need be on account of Jesus, forgiving and reconciling with offenders even if it is hard for us to do so. We are greatly assured that He will not forsake us, as we bear the cost of discipleship to the glory of God, His precious thoughts are always with us. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to endure the cost of discipleship even if we receive the reward of peace, prosperity, and eternal life through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.