Central Idea: We should be wholeheartedly devoted to following Christ.
1. Followers of Christ love Him supremely. [v. 26]
a. They must love Christ more and cling to Him closer than even those closest to them (i.e., mother, father, etc.)
2. Followers of Christ never look back. [v. 27]
a. Criminals headed for crucifixion carried the horizontal beam of the cross as they traveled to the site for crucifixion. Onlookers knew that people carrying a cross would never return.
b. Followers of Christ take up their cross and follow Jesus never returning to the way of the world.
3. Application:
What does this look like practically?
Followers of Christ count the cost. [vv. 28-33]
They consider what it costs them prior to following, and they follow.
The builder of the tower.
The king going to war.
Followers of Christ exude humility. [vv. 7-11]
Followers of Christ embody selflessness. [vv. 12-14]
Followers of Christ exhibit devotion. [vv. 15-23, 34-35]
To not exhibit devotion is to lose one’s saltiness (purpose) and to become useless to the Kingdom of God.
