Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see
if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish
it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and
consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with
twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way
off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have
cannot be my disciples.”
Luke 14:28-33
Intentional – done on purpose; deliberate.
Booker T. Washington once said, “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a
result of hard work.” To truly accomplish something, there is often precious time, talent, and
treasure poured into the desired outcome. Jesus taught us that the same principle should be
applied in our devotion to Him.
Following Him, fulfilling His desires, and allowing our lives to be used for His purposes on earth
are all things that require intentionality on our part. Jesus may have been talking about
counting the cost of discipleship before entering into the commitment, but truly there is never
a bad time to evaluate our lives and prepare ourselves to be the best disciples that we can be.
Perhaps we can capitalize on the focus of the New Year to become more intentional in our walk
with the Lord.
What changes may need to take place in your life to become more like Jesus? What priorities
can be shifted or re-examined to put Jesus in the center of our lives? Is there a good work in
the Body of Christ or in the world that He is tugging on your heart to accomplish?
These are all excellent questions to pray over and consider as we enter into a new year full of
opportunities to grow, serve, and love others. My prayer is that we will seek to be more
intentional in everything we do this year. Let us be deliberate in every undertaking. Let us be
calculated and prepared for the good works ahead of us in Christ. Let us live our lives with
purpose and meaning that will last through eternity.
I love you all,
Pastor David
