Devotional: Hard Is Good

Luke 14:26-30

My daughter who is a dance teacher and choreographer was telling me about a situation that took place in one of her classes. She was teaching the students some new movements. One of the students complained, “This is hard.” The teacher replies, “Hard is good.” As I am being told about this incident I remember Jesus’ parable about counting the cost before starting to erect a building. I find this parable in Luke 14:28-30. Why did Jesus tell this parable?

Large crowds are following Jesus and His disciples. Jesus begins to tell the people how difficult it is to be His disciple. He says, ‘“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple”’ (v. 26, NASB). ‘“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple’” (v. 28).

We can see from these requirements that it is hard to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus tells us to count the cost before we decide to be His disciple. Is it a good thing to be a disciple of Jesus? We must ask ourselves, Am I willing and able to pay the cost necessary to be His disciple? If we answer “yes” to these questions it will be hard. The good thing is that being a disciple of Jesus is a good thing.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for giving us the opportunity to be your disciple. WE have counted the cost. We are sure doing the hard thing to be Your disciple is good. Amen.