Readings for Pentecost 15

Deut. 30:15-20

Philemon 1-21

Luke 14:25-35

Passage for meditation: “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:27  

Brief Devotion: “When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die”, so writes Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book “The Cost of Discipleship”.  That, I confess, doesn’t tickle my ear.  I would prefer to follow Jesus at my own leisure and according to my discretion.  I certainly do not like this talk of crosses and dying. 

And yet, this is where Christ bids us to follow him to; the cross.  It is at the cross where Jesus paid the ultimate price for us and our salvation.  Not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that we may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness.  The cross, the instrument of death is the place we find our lives and where Christ calls us to.

The cross of Christ comes to us and kills us in the waters of our baptism.  At the same time, the cross comes to us and brings us life, by the promise of the forgiveness of our sins on account of Jesus death and resurrection.  Our baptism then marks the beginning of a life of following Jesus.  A life marked by daily dying to ourselves and the sin that clings to the old flesh and raising again to trust and faith in Christ as we encounter Him in His Word.  It is a life full of daily repentance and trust.  It is a life of following Christ, enduring suffering, temptation, trails and tribulation.  At the same time, a life of following Christ trusting in His promise that He will walk with you, even carry you through these same sufferings, temptations, trials and tribulations.

It is not an easy road to walk.  It is true that some who begin do not finish.  The cost and the cross are rejected by some and the sinful nature prevails.  But to those whom Christ calls, He also equips by His Spirit through the Word to take up our crosses and follow him to death and to life.