This is a re-phrasing of Jesus teaching in Luke 14 about counting the cost of discipleship.

Extract from the reading:

There were loads of people following Jesus. Loads and loads and loads.
So what did he do?
Count them?
Write an article on church growth?
Pat himself on the back for a job well done?
Take one massive selfie?
No, he turned to them and said,

"Listen. If you want to be my disciple, then you're going to have to hate your nearest and dearest: your mum, your dad, your brothers, your sisters, your wife, and even your kids. And, your own life, for that matter.
You want to be my disciple? Then pick up your cross and follow me.
Count the cost. That's all I'm saying.
You'd do it if you wanted to build a tower. Of course you would.
You'd sit down with your builders and your accountants and you'd add up all the figures, so you'd know exactly how much money you'd need to finish the job.
You wouldn't rush out and dig the foundation and then say, "Oh dear, I've run out of money."
You'd look stupid, wouldn't you, with nothing to show but a great big hole in the ground?..."

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