Scripture Reading
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Devotional Reflection
Over the past few days, we’ve been called inward—
to open our hearts…
to remain watchful…
And now, Christ brings us to a moment of decision.
Because it’s one thing to feel inspired.
It’s another thing to commit.
As we approach the final stretch of Lent,
Jesus does not soften His words.
He clarifies them.
He invites us to consider what it truly means to follow Him.
Christ doesn’t call us into something vague.
He calls us into something real.
“To follow” is not just agreement.
It’s direction.
It’s movement.
And before we take that step, He asks us to pause…
and to count the cost.
There are moments when faith feels easy.
Clear.
Compelling.
But Jesus isn’t asking for a moment.
He’s asking for a lifetime.
To carry the cross is not symbolic.
It’s daily.
It’s choosing surrender when it would be easier to resist.
Choosing obedience when it would be easier to drift.
And that kind of life cannot be entered casually.
It must be chosen.
Today, take a moment to pause.
Not in fear…
but in honesty.
Where is Christ calling you to go deeper?
What is He asking you to release?
What is He asking you to carry?
Following Him will cost something.
But not following Him costs more.
Choose deliberately.
Closing Prayer
Lord,
You do not call me into a shallow life,
but into a life that is full, real, and rooted in You.
And yet, I often hesitate.
I want the comfort of faith
without the cost of commitment.
Give me clarity, Lord.
Help me to see what it truly means to follow You—
not just in words, but in the quiet choices I make each day.
Strengthen me when the path feels difficult.
Give me courage when I am tempted to turn back.
And remind me that anything I surrender for Your sake
is never truly lost.
Teach me to carry what You have given me,
with faith, with trust, and with endurance.
And as I continue this journey through Lent,
help me to follow You—not halfway,
but fully.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.