Part 3: The Investment – “Committed to the Cost”
Luke Chapters 9–10
INTRODUCTION: THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is more than admiration for Jesus—it is complete surrender to Him. In Luke 9–10, Jesus teaches that following Him requires sacrifice, commitment, obedience, and an eternal perspective. Salvation is free, but discipleship costs us our comfort, pride, selfish desires, and divided loyalties. Jesus challenges His followers to count the cost before committing to the Kingdom.
True discipleship is not occasional convenience—it is daily investment.
1. DAILY SURRENDER: TAKING UP THE CROSS
Luke 9:23-24 NKJV
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”
Historical Context & Meaning
In Roman culture, carrying a cross symbolized death, humiliation, and surrender. A man carrying his cross was on the way to execution. Jesus used this imagery intentionally to show that discipleship requires dying to self-will, selfish ambition, pride, and worldly desires.
Jesus was teaching that following Him would not always be easy or popular. True discipleship means choosing obedience over convenience.
Theological Insight
Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…
Jesus modeled surrender by humbling Himself and obeying the Father completely—even unto death.
Denying self – choosing God’s will over personal comfort.
Taking up the cross – embracing sacrificial obedience, even when difficult.
Following Christ – walking in His ways, even when it leads to suffering.
Romans 12:1 NKJV
Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
Life Application
Daily surrender means giving God access to every part of your life—your attitude, relationships, decisions, habits, priorities, and future. Many people want the blessings of Christ without the burden of commitment, but discipleship requires intentional sacrifice.
Sometimes taking up your cross means:
Forgiving when you were hurt.
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Staying faithful when life gets hard.
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Serving when no one notices.
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Obeying God when it costs you comfort.
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Letting go of pride, bitterness, or selfish ambition.
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The cross is not simply suffering; it is choosing God’s will over your own desires.
Mind Mastery Application 🧠
Your greatest battles often happen in your mind before they ever appear in your actions. Daily surrender requires renewing your thoughts consistently. The flesh says, “Protect yourself,” while the Spirit says, “Trust God.” A surrendered mind learns to silence fear, pride, and selfishness in order to obey God fully.
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Instead of asking:
“What do I want?”
Ask:
“What does God desire from me?”
Reflection Question ❓
How can you take up your cross daily in your current season of life?
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2. SACRIFICE AND PRIORITIES: THE DANGER OF DIVIDED LOYALTIES
Luke 9:62 NKJV
But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”
Historical Context & Meaning
Luke 9:57-62 NKJV
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Jesus encounters several individuals who express interest in following Him, yet each person hesitates because of personal priorities, attachments, or distractions.
Jesus was not condemning family responsibilities; He was exposing hearts that wanted partial commitment instead of full surrender. In farming culture, a plowman who constantly looked backward would create crooked rows and ruin the field. Jesus used this image to show that divided focus leads to ineffective discipleship.
What is the lesson in Jesus’ response?
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Following Christ requires wholehearted commitment. You cannot move fully into God’s future while remaining emotionally tied to your past. Delayed obedience is still disobedience.
Theological Insight
Genesis 19:23-26 NKJV
23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
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Lot’s wife looked back because her heart was still attached to Sodom. Her body left, but her mind remained connected.
Matthew 6:24 NKJV
“No one can serve two masters…”for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Divided loyalties weaken spiritual effectiveness.
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Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Let us lay aside every weight…
Discipleship requires removing distractions and maintaining focus on Jesus.
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Life Application
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Many believers struggle because they want God while still holding onto old habits, unhealthy relationships, worldly validation, or emotional attachments. Growth becomes difficult when your heart is divided between obedience and comfort.
Sometimes God calls you to leave:
Old mindsets
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Toxic environments
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Fear-based decisions
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Sinful patterns
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People who hinder your spiritual growth
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You cannot fully invest in Kingdom purpose while constantly looking backward.
Forward movement requires focused commitment.
Mind Mastery Application 🧠
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Your mind cannot effectively pursue purpose while constantly replaying the past. Looking back emotionally can create discouragement, regret, fear, or stagnation. Spiritual maturity requires mental discipline—the ability to focus on where God is leading instead of where you used to be.
A divided mind produces divided results.
Train your mind to:
Focus forward
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Trust God’s direction
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Release what no longer serves your growth
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Stay committed even when emotions fluctuate
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Reflection Question ❓
What “weights” or divided loyalties are keeping you from fully following Christ?
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3. ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE: REJOICING IN THE RIGHT THINGS
Luke 10:17-20 NKJV
Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
Jesus redirects their excitement from temporary spiritual success to eternal identity.
Theological Insight
Colossians 3:2 NKJV
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Philippians 3:8 NKJV
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
John 15:5 NKJV
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.“
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Jesus reminds the disciples that spiritual power, accomplishments, and ministry success should never become greater than their relationship with God.
What brings you the most joy?
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This question reveals what truly has your heart.
If your joy only comes from success, money, recognition, or achievements, your peace will always fluctuate. But when your joy is rooted in Christ and eternity, circumstances lose the power to control your identity.
Life Application
God wants believers to celebrate victories, but He also wants us to maintain proper perspective. Titles, influence, applause, accomplishments, and earthly success are temporary. Our greatest joy should come from belonging to Christ and knowing our names are written in heaven.
A mature disciple learns:
Success is not identity
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Power is not purpose
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Ministry is not a substitute for intimacy with God
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Accomplishments are meaningless without a relationship with Christ
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Eternal perspective changes how you handle both success and suffering.
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Mind Mastery Application 🧠
Whatever dominates your thoughts will eventually shape your identity. When your mind becomes consumed with earthly validation, comparison, or achievement, anxiety and insecurity increase. But when your thoughts remain anchored in eternity, you develop stability, peace, and confidence in God.
An eternal mindset helps you:
Stay humble in success
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Stay hopeful in hardship
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Stay focused on purpose
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Stay grateful regardless of circumstances
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Reflection Question
What currently brings you the greatest joy, and does it align with eternal priorities?
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CONCLUSION: THE TRUE INVESTMENT OF DISCIPLESHIP
True discipleship requires:
Daily surrender
Undivided commitment
An eternal perspective
Jesus never promised an easy path, but He promised a meaningful one. The investment of following Christ may cost comfort, convenience, pride, and temporary pleasures—but the reward is eternal life, spiritual growth, purpose, peace, and intimacy with God.
The question is not simply:
“Do you believe in Jesus?”
The deeper question is:
“Are you fully committed to following Him?”
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