Scripture
“If you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.”

Observation
To be Jesus' follower means every other relationship must fall under his reign, so much so that it will seem that we hate our natural relatives in comparison. Even our own life must be secondary, so that we are like a man carrying his cross on the way to the execution place.

Jesus tells us to count the cost before we start the journey. We don't want to be like a man who starts a building but runs out of money before it is finished, or a king who goes into war without working out if he can win the war.

Nobody can become a disciple without giving up everything.

Application
Jesus lays it out clearly here that to follow him means everything. We give up our prior relationships, our possessions, our life for His sake. He is an absolute dictator, requiring absolute devotion.

The demands of family and friends, job and community come second to the demands of following Jesus. We give up our right to determine our life directions and goals.

The Good News is that when we allow Him to rule over every part of our life, He gives far more than He takes. But first we have to lay it all on His altar.

Prayer
Lord Jesus I dedicate myself to serving you and you alone. Help me to see where other priorities in my life are standing in the way of obeying you, and then to yield them to you. Amen.