25-27 One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.
28-30 “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’
31-32 “Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?
33 “Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.
34 “Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it’s useless, good for nothing.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
Master Jesus, You ask me to listen to your words that I can follow you as your disciples. You instruct me to let go of people. to let go of myself, and to take up my cross daily to follow you. My Lord, I would like to let go of people who have hurt me before by asking God's forgiveness to forgive them; I would like to let go of people whom I always want to please that I can live freely in my life; I also have to let go of myself, knowing that I am loved and treasured by heavenly Father that my ego is dissolved in the love of God; I also take up my cross daily as I know that the Cross of Jesus is able to put to death of my old habit of sins, mindsets, reflective or default behavior. I have to count the cross of denying my old self that it may take time to struggle, having ups and downs, sometimes wins and sometimes fails, but knowing that this is a transition of my life that God promises that He will sanctify my life wholly as a masterpiece for Him.
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